stupid Decision by Centre: T-backlash: MP, MLAs resign; Bandh called in state

he Vijayawada Congress MP, Mr Lagadapati Rajgopal, and 60 MLAs from all parties resigned to protest the Centre's decision to initiate the process of carving Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, all parties have given a call for a bandh to protest the decision.

Two senior Congress MLAs and former ministers J.C. Diwakar Reddy and D.L. Ravindra Reddy on Thursday also resigned from their post. While Diwakar Reddy represents Tadipatri Assembly constituency in the backward Anantapur district, Ravindra Reddy is from Mydukuru in Kadapa district of Rayalaseema Both were strong proponents of a unified state.

All the MLAs who submitted resignations belong to coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of the State. However, the Assembly speaker is yet to accept their resignations. The Congress has 158 out of the 294 seats in the Assembly with just 10 seats majority.

The MLAs have strongly decried the Congress high command's "unilateral decision" to initiate the process for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

"This decision is very painful for us. Lakhs of poeple from other regions of the state have come to Hyderabad in search of livelihood. What would be their fate if the state is split," P. Venkatramaya, a Congress legislator from Krishna district, said in the Assembly.

Telugu Desam MLA P. Raghunatha Reddy said they resigned from their posts as the Congress took a unilateral decision to move a motion in the state assembly for the formation of Telangana State.

Informed sources said TDP MLA Ramakrishna from Venkatagiri in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district too resigned.

But TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu is said to be dissuading his party MLAs from doing so.

Congress sources said many more MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema have said they would resign ahead of the proposed resolution in the Assembly seeking creation of Telangana state.

Several ministers and MLAs hailing from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions have strongly decried the Congress high command's "unilateral decision" to initiate the process for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress legislators from these regions are in consultation with their colleagues in Telugu Desam Party and trying to muster support against the division of the state.

TRS stalls Assembly

As their leader K. Chandrasekhara Rao's fast-unto-death entered the 10th day on Tuesday, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) legislators repeatedly stalled proceedings in the Andhra Pradesh assembly demanding a resolution on a separate state of Telangana.

Speaker Kiran Kumar Reddy had to adjourn the house twice as TRS legislators rushed to the podium after he rejected their adjournment motion. The TRS wanted the house to pass a resolution for a separate state of Telangana.

As soon as the house met for the day, TRS legislators were on their feet demanding that their adjournment motion be taken up and that an official resolution to carve out a separate Telangana state be moved.

Pandemonium prevailed in the house as TRS workers raised slogans of "Jai Telangana" and rushed towards the speaker's podium after he rejected the adjournment motion and tried to go ahead with the listed agenda.

Even after the speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes, TRS legislators remained where they were raising slogans of "Jai Telangana". Ruling Congress party legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions countered them with slogans of "Jai Andhra" and "Jai Rayalaseema" respectively.

After the house reassembled, TRS stuck to its demand while the other opposition parties supported it. Amid the din, the speaker adjourned the house for half-an-hour.

TRS, the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and all other parties except Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) are demanding that the house pass a resolution on Telangana while the ruling party said it would abide by the decision of its central leadership.

The parties expressed their views at an emergency all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Monday night on the direction of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The MIM sought two days to take a decision.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP), at its meeting last evening, authorised Sonia Gandhi to take a decision. Party legislators from three regions of the state expressed divergent views over the Telangana issue.

Rosaiah reported the outcome of both the meetings to Sonia Gandhi, who went into a huddle with senior party leaders like Pranab Mukherjee, Veerappa Moily and Ahmed Patel.

She is likely to take a decision Tuesday to resolve the ongoing Telangana agitation triggered by the TRS chief's indefinite hunger strike.

Meanwhile, after a 48-hour shutdown, life is returning to normal in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana.

State-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses returned on the roads after two days while shops, business establishments and educational institutions have reopened.

Centre to decide on Telangana: CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah on Tuesday said that the central government would take a decision on the bifurcation of the state to create a separate Telangana.

As Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhara Rao continued his fast-unto-death for the 10th day, Rosaiah told reporters that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was informed of the Telangana issue.

Rosaiah said his government would abide by the decision of the central government. Telangana region comprises 10 districts including Greater Hyderabad.

"If the central government takes a decision, there may be no need for passing a resolution in the assembly," he said, referring to the demand by TRS and other opposition parties.

Rosaiah said he has brought to the notice of Congress president Sonia Gandhi the opinions expressed by various parties at a meeting on Monday night.

"I have sent a report to the high command and I hope it will consider the same today," the Chief Minister said.

Rosaiah said he would go to New Delhi on Wednesday to greet Sonia Gandhi on her birthday.

State Congress president D. Srinivas on Monday reached New Delhi and apprised the leadership of the Telangana agitation.

Though the ruling party has said that it would abide by Sonia Gandhi's decision and legislators authorised her to take a decision, it appeared divided over Telangana.

Divergent views were expressed by Congress legislators from Telangana, Rayalaseema and Andhra regions at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Monday evening.

The party legislators from Rayalaseema would meet on Tuesday evening to discuss the issue while legislators from Greater Hyderabad would hold a separate meeting on Wednesday.

A section of Congress legislators from Rayalseema want a separate state for the region, which comprises four districts.

At least two ministers from greater Hyderabad wanted union territory status for the city in view of the large number of settlers living here.

Telangana varsities turn battle zone

University campuses in the Telangana region saw student unrest following the arrest of the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on Sunday. Observers said the student violence at the Osmania University campus was the worst in four decades.

Trouble started when students gathered outside Krishnaveni Hostel on the OU campus at 10 am to take out a rally protesting against the arrest of Mr Rao. They burnt chairs and tables near the hostel, which is 150 yards from the Osmania University police station.

The students also ignored a request to not take out a procession, and police began a lathicharge to disperse them. Some personnel entered the hostel and beat the students. This triggered an angry response from the students from other hostels who joined the protests. Soon, about 2,000 hostellers gathered at the spot.

But the police caned them too near the NCC office on the campus and again entered the hostels. Police sealed off the campus by closing the points at Tarnaka and Nallakunta.

There were at least five incidents of stone pelting which triggered retaliation from the police. The two fought a pitched battle for nearly five hours. About 20 students were injured the lathicharge and taken to Gandhi Hospital. Two student leaders were examined for internal injuries at Osmania General Hospital. Six physically handicapped students who were caught in the melee were lathicharged.

The students ransacked the quarters of Mr Christopher, secretary of AP State Higher Education Council. Mr Christopher and his family were not at home at that time.

All student unions joined hands to protest the police action and called for ‘OU bandh’ on Monday and gheraoed the OU Arts College principal, Mr Sudharshan Rao.

“Police is not supposed to enter the hostel blocks without the permission of the vice-chancellor,” said Mr J. Kalyan, ABVP leader. OU Teachers Association also joined the protests.

The principal agreed that police should not enter the hostels without permission, but added, “if the situation goes out of control, they can take action. We are not sure whose fault was it. We will look into the matter.”

OU officials later declared a holiday to all campus colleges except the College of Engineering till December 3. Even as this was on, 500 candidates took an entrance exam for jobs as engineers in BHEL.