Congress leader Hanumantha Rao terms decision to create Telangana a proper even as Seemandhra protests

With the situation in Andhra Pradesh turning grim because of anti-Telangana protests, especially in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao on Wednesday said the UPA Coordination Committee and the Congress Working Committee's decision to go ahead with the formation of a separate state of Telangana is proper.

"The high command has taken a proper decision in consultation with all stakeholders, including all political parties," he said.

Candidly admitting that several leaders in Andhra Pradesh have expressed their discontent over the issue, Rao, however, said that he was confident about the situation returning to normal in the state in the coming days.

"This is a serious issue, and opinion is very much divided in Andhra Pradesh. It is the responsibility of the chief minister and the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president to discuss this and the situation will be normal shortly. There are emotions attached to it, but after few days, normalcy will come in Andhra Pradesh," he added.

Protests over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh are being reported from the coastal areas and the Rayalaseema region.

Road transport in these areas has come to a grinding halt, while shops, business establishments and educational institutions have downed shutters.

The shutdown has been called by the United Andhra Joint Action Committee, which has opposed the division of the state. Students and activists of various groups are also reported to have taken to the streets to vent their ire over the proposed break-up.

Normal life has been affected in Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram, Eluru, Kakinada, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nellore, Ongole, Chittoor, Tirupati, Anantapur, Kadapa, Kurnool and other towns.

Protesters are alleging that the Congress has taken took a "unilateral" decision to divide the state, and demanded the resignation of all public representatives to mount pressure on the party to withdraw the decision.

Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in the two regions to maintain law and order.

The CWC and the UPA Coordination Committee cleared the formation of Telangana on Tuesday evening. They announced Hyderabad as the joint capital for ten years.

The Union Cabinet is likely to meet this week to take a final call on Telangana formation.