War of words between AP, Telangana on invocation of Section 8

The invocation of section 8 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which empowers Governor to assume law and order powers in the common capital of Hyderabad, today become the latest bone of contention between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The war of words between the two sides escalated in the wake of reports that Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has communicated his opinion to the common Governor of both states, ESL Narasimhan, on implementation of section 8.
The AG's advice came in the wake of AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the Governor to implement section 8 of the Act.

While AP government led by Naidu has been demanding the Governor to take over the law and order jurisdiction in Hyderabad, Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao continued to maintain that law and order was a state subject and Hyderabad was integral part of Telangana.
Referring to reports that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has conveyed to the Governor that he would sit on fast if the section 8 is invoked, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murthy today said it would be "irresponsible" on Rao's part to do so.
"It is not proper for him to speak provocatively like the leader of an agitation and not like a Chief Minister. Why Telangana leaders, who celebrated when the state reorganisation act was passed, are now taking objection? It is clear in the Attorney General's letter that Governor has full freedom to issue a notification if the Telangana government does not respond in three days," Krishna Murthy said.

He alleged that issues between the two states could not be resolved through talks in the last one year.

Recalling that they had favoured making Hyderabad a Union Territory at the time of bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh Labour Minister K Atchannaidu said they would not hesitate to agitate now to make the city a UT if the Telangana government does not end its alleged high-handedness.
It is better if the two states move ahead together, he said.
Senior TDP leader and former minister G Muddukrishnama Naidu said people of Andhra have a right in Hyderabad as they too paid taxes.
"They say Section 8 is not needed. Then, why is it there?," AP Panchayat Raj Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu said.

Meanwhile, employees and other sections held protests at different places in Telangana opposing invocation of section 8.