Telangana groups not to enforce shutdown on Christmas

HYDERABAD - Bowing to the request of a Christian organisation, the all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) pushing for creation of a Telangana state Thursday decided not to enforce its shutdown on Friday in view of Christmas.

At a meeting of JAC leaders, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao appealed to his party cadres to postpone the shutdown to allow the Christian community to celebrate the festival without any problem.

Friday is the second day of a 48-hour shutdown called by the TRS and supported by all other parties.

He said the protests could continue in a peaceful manner on the second day without forcing closure of shops and other business establishments.

KCR said the decision was taken on a request from the All India Christian Council, which had backed the demand for statehood to Telangana region.