Tension prevailed at Bhasheerbagh Press Club here on Wednesday when Telangana protagonists have obstructed the book release program organised by the Vishalandhra Maha Sabha.
Vishalandhra Maha Sabha organised a function to release ‘Rujuvululeni Udyamam’ book, which targeted Telangana protagonists’ movement, here today. Opposing this function, several Telangana protagonists including Osmania University JAC, Telangana Advocates JAC representatives and other protagonists barged into Press Club and obstructed the speech of Vishalandhra Maha Sabha representative Parakala Prabhakar. Even, several journalists have entered into an argument with Parakala and pulled the mike from him and pushed him aside.
The protagonists have torn the books and burnt them in the Press Club. They also destroyed the Press Club furniture and glass panes. The police who reached the spot, shifted Parakala Prabhakar and his team from Press Club and took them into their custody. The Telangana protagonists argued with the Press Club organizers questioning them as to how they have given permission to the Vishalandhra Maha Sabha representatives to hold a book release function. In the melee, several journalists, police constables and Telangana protagonists have received injuries and the police shifted them to the Apollo Hospital.
Speaking on this occasion, Parakala said that the Telangana protagonists were trying to stop their voice forcefully. He said that burning a book was not a culture and alleged that the Telangana protagonists were not in a position to face their argument and hence they were attacking them. He said that the Telangana protagonists were afraid of their book and hence they were trying to stop their voice. He questioned whether they do not have the right to express their voice in the democracy. He also asked the Telangana protagonists whether the people have the right to express their feelings in the democracy or not.
Earlier, Osmania University JAC has staged a dharna opposing the release of Parakala’s book. Verbal dual took place between the police and students when the police obstructed them. The police have arrested several students on this occasion.
APUWJ president D Somasunder has described the incident of destroying the furniture and glass panes as an unfortunate one. Earlier, the Telangana Journalists Forum members have questioned the Press Club authorities as to how they have given the press club to the Vishalandhra Maha Sabha to organize book release function.
On the other hand, the TRS Chief K Chandrashekar Rao has condemned the arrest of Telangana protagonists including Telangana Journalists. (NSS)
