'Telangana bandh' called by Opposition Congress, TDP, BJP, YSRCP, CPI, CPM parties on Saturday over farmer issues turned out to be a 'picnic' for opposition leaders at police stations in Hyderabad.
To ensure that the bandh becomes a ‘flop’, the TRS government directed police department to take all prominent Opposition leaders into custody right at 5 am and confine them to police stations till 5 pm.
The government reportedly allotted Rs 10,000 each to police stations to meet the expenditure for providing food, snacks, tea and other facilities for leaders in police stations for 12 hours.
A festive atmosphere prevailed in police stations in Bolarum, Begumpet, Goshamahal etc, where tents, chairs and air coolers were arranged for leaders to sit, have food and snacks and chat for 12 hours.
The leaders were busy giving bites to TV news channels, speaking to journalists over phone and giving minute-to-minute updates on bandh.
With the bandh called on Second Saturday, a holiday, no major efforts were required for Opposition to ensure closure of schools, colleges, banks, government offices etc since they anyway remain shut.
With this, Opposition leaders used the occasion to enjoy and bond among themselves at the police stations at the cost of government funds.
