Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Teachers court arrest across State

HYDERABAD: Teachers courted arrest in large numbers at several places in the State on the eighth day of their indefinite strike on Wednesday when they picketed revenue divisional offices as part of the intensified agitation.

No indication, however, was available from the government on the resumption of talks with the Joint Action Committee of Teachers’ Organisations.

Police released all the arrested teachers, numbering about 1.5 lakh, without booking any cases, Jacto leaders later said. The teachers gathered at the revenue divisional offices at 320 places, right from 10 a.m., sporting black badges. Police swung into action as work in the revenue offices was affected with the agitators stopping people from going to offices.

A statement issued by Jacto’s State steering committee said the teachers would gherao Ministers on Thursday and launch mass hunger strike along with family members on Friday. They also said they were ready to follow the advice given by the High Court and urged the government to invite them for talks.

Extending their solidarity with the ongoing strike, all the Opposition parties have urged Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to take the initiative and hold discussions with the agitating teachers for resolving their issues amicably.

Participating in an all-party meeting convened by the CPI(M) on Wednesday, representatives of the TDP, TRS, CPI(M), CPI, BJP, PR, Lok Satta and other parties expressed concern over the way the government was unleashing repression to ensure that the teachers relent from their strike. CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu presided over the meeting which was attended, among others, by senior TDP leader K. Srihari, Nayani Narsimha Reddy (TRS), E. Peddi Reddy (NTP), K. Laxman (BJP), Parakala Prabhakar (PR) and K. Aruna (CPI).

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