T Students protest at R Day celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan

Students, allegedly belonging to Osmania University Joint Action committee staged a dharna protesting the delay in the formation of a separate Telangana state at the Republic Day Celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan and raised `Jai Telangana’ slogans on Wednesday.

The students’ protest came even as Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas unfurled the Tricolour to mark the 62nd Republic Day Celebrations.

Sensing trouble, the police immediately took them into custody and shifted them to a nearby police station.

The protest by the students prompted All India Congress Committee general secretary Ponguleti Sudhakar alleged the Telangana Rashtra Samithi were provoking students in the name of Telangana agitation.

He took serious objection to the TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao comments allegedly made at Sadasivpeta against Congress leaders. Mr Sudhakar said the Congress party at Centre would take appropriate decision on Telangana statehood issue at an appropriate time.

Mr Srinivas too alleged that a section of leaders are criticizing Congress president Sonia Gandhi unable to digest her leadership skills.

Addressing the gathering after hoisting the Tricolor, the PCC chief expressed confidence that the Congress would come to power in the next general elections in 2014 under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

He asked the vested elements to stop criticizing Ms Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Despite regional and language differences, the people of the country are on total unanimity when the issue of Nationality comes to the fore, the PCC chief pointed out, and recalled the services of freedom fighters to the Nation.

Mr Srinivas said the Congress has preserved democratic values and maintained communal harmony despite turbulent times.

Senior Congress leaders including Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy also participated in the Republic Day Celebrations.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Nadendla Bhaskar unfurled the National Flag on the Assembly premises while Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani hoisted the Tricolour too. They paid rich tributes to freedom fighters.