AP in tense regarding Telangana

It is agitations galore in Andhra Pradesh with protests for and against the bifurcation of the state gaining momentum. While the agitation by pro-Telangana elements was marked by violence mainly in the Osmania University campus here, the unified state protagonists launched a bus yatra from Visakhapatnam to drum up people’s support for their cause. Pro-Telangana elements in the garb of students attacked police and security personnel deployed on the OU campus with stones. Police denied permission for a mass hunger-strike by the separatists inside the OU but a group of students sat on fast demanding that the Government of India immediately revoke the 14(F) clause of the Presidential Order governing government appointments. The separatists also tried to take out a rally to the Raj Bhavan but police foiled the attempt as prohibitory orders under different sections of law were in force in the state capital. A few Telangana legislators, who resigned from their posts demanding creation of a separate state, were arrested by police outside the Assembly when they sought to visit the OU expressing solidarity with the agitating separatists. City Commissioner of Police A K Khan told newsmen today that the situation was “under control and peaceful” in Osmania University. “We have no objection to students carrying out any agitation in a peaceful manner. But, only students and staff of the University alone will be allowed into the campus as per the Supreme Court guidelines. We have concrete information that many outsiders are camping inside OU hence we have taken some persons into custody for violating prohibitory orders,” Khan said after visiting the OU. The Commissioner denied that para-military forces were deployed inside the University. “Only the local police are inside the campus while additional forces have been deployed outside to prevent untoward incidents,” Khan said. Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and briefed him about the situation in view of the trouble at OU.

On the other hand, the pro-unified state supporters are prevailing upon ministers and elected representatives from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions to leave no stone unturned to prevent bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. In Tirupati, students of Sri Venkateswara University boycotted classes in support of a unified state. Meanwhile, state Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy maintained that resignations were not a solution to any problem. “Resignations will only cause by-elections and not solve the problem. Since it is a coalition government at the Centre, all constituents of UPA have to be consulted before taking a decision on the statehood issue,” he told students’ Joint Action Committee leaders of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, when they sought his support for a unified state. Raghuveera, however, assured the students that they would fight to keep Andhra Pradesh united.

Students laid siege to the residences of Rural Development Minister D Manikya Varaprasad and Md Ahmadullah in Guntur and Kadapa respectively demanding that they quit their posts in support of a unified state.