(Image source from: Telugu360)

TJAC Chairman, Kodandaram Branded As Maoist Sympathizer:- Chairman of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), Kodandaram is branded as a suspected Maoist sympathizer by Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s government.

Kondandaram, a retired Osmania University political science professor is a former ally of KCR. He along with KCR fought shoulder to shoulder for Telangana statehood once, now they do not see eye to eye. Additionally, Kodandaram is described as a “Congress agent” by KCR.

Mass movements against KCR’s Telangana Rashtra Samithi government have been led by TJAC for the last three years. The TJAC basked in the glow of Telangana’s formation in 2014. The TJAC was formed in 2009 to fight for statehood. KCR has been accused by Kodandaram of nepotism and betraying the “spirit of Telangana”.

Recently, Kodandaram gave a call to people to dethrone KCR in the next elections. Even as KCR stays the face of the statehood movement, the TJAC, remains an influential pressure group. According to Telangana home minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy, the police have information that Kodandaram’s mass movements are supported by Maoists.

Reddy said the police was directed by him not to allow the TJAC chief to tour the districts. Under a movement titled Amarula Spoorthy Yatra (tour to revive the spirit of those who lost their lives for achieving Telangana statehood), different parts of the state have been extensively toured by Kodandaram in the last one year. Kodandaram was detained by the police on Saturday, at Medipally on the outskirts of Hyderabad. This incident happened when he was on his way to Jangaon district to participate in yet another event under the Amarula Spoorthy Yatra banner. Almost after seven hours, Kodandaram was released.

KCR is dismissive of Kodandaram and accuses him of conspiring against his government. “He was just one of the lakhs of Telangana activists I groomed. Now, he has the audacity to give a call to the people to dethrone me. He does not have the ability to win even as a sarpanch, let alone running a party to fight against me,” the CM said at a recent press meet.

The allegations of being a Maoist sympathizer and working for the Congress were dismissed by Kodandaram. “First, let the government decide whether I am working for the Congress party or the Maoists. I have no personal agenda, except to fight on issues concerning the people, which the TRS government is ignoring.”

He added, “The spirit of the Telangana is completely lost and the state has become a personal property of KCR and his family. He is trying to suppress every voice of dissent, giving the go-by to democratic traditions.”

The agenda of TJAC was to involve people in governance and fight for their rightful share in the state’s development process, said Kodandaram.

SUPRAJA