Protests in Seemandhra against statehood to Telangana

Opposing Andhra Pradesh's division, which looks imminent, protestors Saturday took to streets in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions of the state.

Students and activists of various political and non-political groups took out rallies, formed human chains and observed shutdown in some parts of Seemandhra, as the two regions are generally referred to.

Educational institutions remained closed in several towns on a call given by Samaikhya Andhra or United Andhra students' Joint Action Committee.

A day after indications that Congress core group at its meeting Friday decided in principle to give separate statehood to Telangana, protests broke out in different towns of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

Hundreds of students participated in a rally in Nellore, demanding the central government to drop any move to split the state. Congress legislator Anam Vivekananda Reddy also addressed the rally.

In Anantapur, protestors laid siege to the house of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislator P. Keshav, demanding his resignation in support of the united state.

He assured the protestors that he would announce his decision after the proposed meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC), which is expected to take a final call on Telangana.

Opposing the state's division, protestors also surrounded the house of state Endowments Minister C. Ramachandraiah in Kadapa.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed in Bapatla town of Guntur district. Addressing a rally, Senior Congress leader P. Goverdhan Reddy said state's division would have serious repercussions.