Congress leadership urged to reconsider Telangana decision

With the protests continuing in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions for the fifth day, Andhra Pradesh state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana Sunday said he would urge the party's central leadership to reconsider its decision to divide the state.

Talking to reporters here, he said there was a need to look into issues like irrigation and employment opportunities.

At a meeting with Satyanarayana and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Saturday night, leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra) had urged them to either convince the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to withdraw its resolution for state's division or resign.

Over 80 leaders including state ministers and state legislators attended the meeting. They include five ministers and several legislators who have already announced their resignations.

Meanwhile, protests and shutdown continued in Seemandhra for the fifth consecutive day.

People from all walks of life took to streets to demand the central government to withdraw its decision to carve out separate Telangana state.

Students, employees, workers, lawyers and political activists took out rallies, formed human chains, staged sit-in and road blockades in various towns. At some places, the protestors cooked and ate food, played games and organized cultural programmes on the roads.

Buses of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSTC) remained off the roads for the fifth day.

A youth attempted self-immolation in Anantapur district. He was admitted to a hospital.

Municipal employees in Vijayawada launched 72-hour strike. In Visakhapatnam, police forcibly shifted some students of Andhra University to a hospital as they were on hunger strike for last five days.

Rajya Sabha member N. Harikrishna announced his resignation to protest the state's division. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader told reporters that he had sent his resignation to the Rajya Sabha chairman.