Protests against Telangana creation hit national capital

Protesters took to the streets in the national capital on Sunday, voicing their demand against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and, with it, the creation of Telangana, and alleged that ruling Congress Party is playing votebank politics.

"Some people want to divide Andhra for their vote bank politics. They should take this decision not to bifurcate Andhra people," a protester, Jaishree Laxmi said.

The Congress Working Committee had earlier announced that Telangana would be carved out of Andhra Pradesh-an announcement that triggered multiple protests for separate statehood throughout the country.

Inspite of protests, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh affirmed that the decision on creating Telangana was final.

"The CWC decision is final and this decision has been taken after extensive consultation with all political parties. Therefore, what we have said in the CWC meeting, we stand by that. We shall do everything that is possible to see that the concerns of the people of Seemandhra-whether it is the NGO's or the students or the people of Seemandhra-are addressed," Singh said.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had set up a Committee, chaired by A.K. Antony, to address the concerns of the people over the creation of Telangana.

Demanding the Centre keep Andhra Pradesh united, more and more groups of people like auto rickshaw drivers, hotel managers associations are taking part in the protest demonstrations being held across the two regions of Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra. Medical practitioners, lawyers and other professionals held rallies at several places.

Managements of private educational institutes in Rayalaseema region continued their shutdown, while business entities remained closed at several places.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that the process for the formation of the new state of Telangana would take about five to six months as per constitutional norms.

"The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has passed a resolution and further procedure will be done according to the Constitution of India. Telangana will be formed by following all the procedures and it would take five to six months," he said.

He also added that Telangana was being formed because it was the oldest issue and the people of that region have been agitating and demanding the formation of a separate state since 1956.