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Hyderabad, Jan 24: Protests were held across Telangana Thursday over Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement that a decision on the Telangana issue is not likely by Jan 28.

Educational institutions in the districts were closed on a call given by Osmania University students' Joint Action Committee.

Activists of various groups demanding statehood to Telangana took to the streets, demanding that the central government stand by its word and announce a decision by Jan 28.

Azad had said Wednesday evening that a decision was not likely by Jan 28, though Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had said after the Dec 27 all-party meeting that a decision would be made within a month.

Protestors attacked the office of the Congress party in Warangal town. They set afire an effigy of Azad and also demanded resignation of all the ministers from the region.

Pro-Telangana protestors laid siege to the residence of state minister Sudershan Reddy in Nizamabad, demanding his resignation. Police arrested the protestors.

Police also arrested pro-Telangana lawyers who tried to lay siege to the ministers' quarters in Hyderabad, while raising slogans "finish off Congress, achieve Telangana".

The protestors alleged that the pressure by leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions) forced the central government to defer the announcement.

Students of Osmania University in Hyderabad staged protests to condemn Azad's statement. They alleged that the Congress government had once again betrayed the people. The protestors set afire the Congress party flag and Azad's effigy at Arts College on the campus.
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The students also tried to lay siege to the house of Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao.

Rallies were also taken out in Seemandhra by students and activists of various parties, opposing the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. A huge rally was organized in Vijayawada to demand that the state be kept united.

Hyderabad, Jan 20: YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy appears to have thrown the TDP chief Chandra Babu Naidu into deep trouble on the Telangana issue. While Chandrababu plunged into problems by allowing himself to be pushed into taking a definite stand on Telangana, Jagan gained in the Seemandhra region by not taking a clear stand on the issue.

Political analysts are stating that it was the Jagan factor that made Congress think seriously about Telangana at this juncture. The Congress high command has apparently come to the conclusion that it would be a sweep by Jagan’s party in the Seemandhra region in the next elections. Observers say that Congress was trying to salvage itself at least in the Telangana region by conceding statehood to the region and projecting itself as the savior of the people here. Political analysts say that Chandrababu walked into the trap of Congress by demanding the all-party meeting and taking a pro-'T' stand in it. Sources in the TDP said Babu never expected the Congress to hold the all-party meeting and was thrown off balance when the meeting was immediately called. Having said several times in the past that he was not against Telangana, Babu left himself no option other than supporting state bifurcation.

Having not taken a definite stand on the 'T' issue, Jagan has also pushed Babu into trouble, say observers. Now while Naidu is facing stiff resistance in the Seemandhra region, Jagan strengthened his position there. Now TDP’s Seemandhra leaders are stating that Chandrababu also should have maintained his uncertain stand like Jagan.

The resignation of Anantapur YSRCP MLA Gurunatha Reddy in favour of Samaikya Andhra is also seen as strategic move of Jagan. It is a known fact that Gurunatha Reddy’s elder brother Narayana Reddy was a very close associate of late Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Some say that YSR had partnership in the contracts of Narayana Reddy who represented Anantapur twice earlier. As his health did not permit, with the permission of YSR, Narayana Reddy fielded his brother Gurunatha Reddy in 2009. No one believed that Gurunatha Reddy had taken a decision to quit his Assembly seat, without Jagan’s nod. They state that by making Gurunatha Reddy resign, Jagan has given a clear signal to the Seemandhra people that he was for retaining the unity of the state.

Looking at the way Gurunatha Reddy submitted his resignation to a small group of Samaikya Andhra agitators one would be bent doubt if it was a stage-managed show. When the SA activists shouted slogans demanding his resignation, Gurunatha Reddy whipped out his letterhead, scribbled his resignation and handed it over to the agitators. The agitators immediately started shouting “Gurunatha Reddy Zindabad”. This looked too unnatural to be true.

By maintaining uncertainty in the all-party meeting, Jagan faced the ire of Telangana protagonists initially. But Chandra Babu had not won the kudos of the Telangana people either. Now Chandrababu is facing more serious anger from the people of Seemandhra and his party leaders as well, for supporting the 'T' cause. His party leaders are stating that while the TRS would alone benefit if the Telangana state was created, the TDP would lose heavily in the Seemandhra region because of his hasty stand. Chandrababu is going to face the anger of people from the Seema Andhra people when he starts his ‘Vastunna Meekosam pada yatra in the Krishna district on Monday. TDP leaders themselves are privately admitting that Naidu who was out of power for two terms has spoiled the chances of the party coming back to power the third time also by taking the pro-'T' stand. “How many seats would we get in the Telangana region? Not many even after this pro-'T' decision” TDP leaders are privately admitting.

Reports suggest that as the elections near, many of the Congress and TDP MLAs and top leaders would slide into the YSR Congress, making its possibilities of sweeping the polls in the Seemandhra region brighter by the day.

Hyderabad: Former minister Gade Venkat Reddy reiterated that any move to divide Andhra Pradesh would be opposed tooth and nail.Talking to reporters, Venkat Reddy said that the aim of Seemandhra leaders was to keep the state united and all efforts would be made to ensure the same. He ridiculed the claims being made by some leaders that Telangana would be a reality by January 28. The formation of Telangana was still a distant dream and very far from reality, he said.
Venkat Reddy accused the Telangana leaders of misleading the people of the region by making them chase the mirage of Telangana. He said that the Congress High Command did not take any decision on the statehood issue as being claimed by some leaders.

Vijayawada (AP): Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal expressed his confidence that there would not be any decision on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh by the Union Government.
He told reporters here today that vested interests have been spreading rumours that the union government has decided to announce its decision on bifurcation on January 28 or a little later.
He asked the people of coastal and Rayalaseema districts not to be afraid of it and quoted the statement of Prime Minister statement that any decision on bifurcation would be taken only with the consent of all parties.
He said that supporters of united Andhra Pradesh would release CDs of movie actor-turned-former chief N T Rama Rao’s (NTR) songs in which he sang songs supporting united Andhra Pradesh.
He also said that if K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR) of the Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) contest elections either from Secunderabad or Hyderabad parliament constituencies in the coming elections, he would lose his deposit.

Hyderabad, Jan 18: TRS senior leader and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao here on Friday made it clear that separate Telangana State would be carved out in spite of any number of hurdles created by the fastidious Seemandhra leaders. 

Participating in the “Smruti deeksha” (remembering sacrifices of Telangana youth for separate State) organized by the Telangana Electricity Employees’ Unions JAC in the Mint Compound here, the TRS leader said they would happily take Telangana State this year, otherwise “We will wrest it in 2014. He also made it clear once again that no force on the earth could stop Telangana State tomorrow.  

The TRS leader said that minister Ganta Srinivas Rao was enacting dramas only for the sake of chief minister post in the forthcoming separate Andhra State. Towards this end, he was making Herculean efforts to earn goodwill of the people of the Seemandhra region, he added. 

Asserting that there was no movement at all for the united Andhra Pradesh in the Seemandhra region, Harish Rao said there would have been sacrifices by the Seemandhra people if really any movement was there. Advising the Seemandhra leaders to discuss the so-called “water issue” across the table amicably if they have any fears, the TRS leader warned that they would not keep quiet if the Seemandhra leaders continue to put spokes in the formation of Telangana State.

Hyderabad, Jan 16: State Ministers Danam Nagender and Mukhesh Goud today said the Congress High Command should also consult them before taking a decision on the State division. 

Speaking to media persons, they said there were people from all the States living in Greater Hyderabad. They said they would demand for protection of their rights. They said Hyderabad should be made a separate state. They said they already putforth their demand before the Congress high command.  

Referring to the charge that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was behind the stand they had taken, the duo said it was a meaningless charge. Stating that along with the Chief Minister they were also elected MLAs for four terms, they asserted that there was no need for any one to teach them politics.

Hyderabad, Jan 15: Telangana Nagara Samiti leader and MLA Dr. Nagam Janardana Reddy said some Seemandhra leaders were planning to whip up violence in the Hyderabad city to scuttle the Telangana process.Talking to the media here on Tuesday, Nagam said this was the reason why Seemandhra ministers called for a meeting on January 17. Stating that he had evidence to prove that there was such a conspiracy, Nagam said he would disclose the evidence at an appropriate time. Nagam has alleged that the Seemandhra leaders would decide about the action plan to whip up violence in their meeting on January 17.Meanwhile, TDP leader Payyavula Keshav has pooh poohed the claim of Nagam Janardana Reddy. He said if he had such evidence he should approach the DGP and place it before him. If he did not have confidence on the DGP, he should go to the court and if he has no faith on the court also Nagam should try to scuttle the conspiracy by himself, Payyavula said sarcastically. 

Hyderabad, Jan 15: Fissures appear to be surfacing in the YSR Congress already. Party MLA Gurunatha Reddy said on Tuesday that he personally opposed bifurcation of the State, opposing the stand taken by the party in the letter it gave to the Union Home Minister in the recent all-party meeting at Delhi. Gurunatha Reddy also said that if the State were to be divided under unavoidable circumstances, then Rayalaseema State also should be formed. He said he was ready to lay down his life, to prevent bifurcation of the State. He said party's opinion on Telangana was different from his own personal view. He also said that he would attend the Samaikyandhra meeting being organized by Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, if invited. He said that it was due to the selfishness of some leaders that the Telangana issue came to the fore and expressed anger that some were talking as if the government had already conceded the separate State. Referring to the view of some that all should abide by the decision of the Centre, he said the Centre should ascertain the views of majority of people. He has asserted that people of Rayalaseema were for the State being kept united. He said it was not easy to divide the State. He has urged the Centre to take a decision that was acceptable to all and added that he would not accept division personally. Meanwhile, another senior leader KK Mahender Reddy strongly opposed the statement of Gurunatha Reddy. He said if any one entertained any personal view, it should be expressed only in the party fora. He said it was improper for members of the party to have personal views as against the party's stand. It is learnt that the YSR Congress leadership had also reprimanded Gurunatha Reddy for expressing his views against Telangana formation. It is learnt that the party advised all concerned not to express their personal views on sensitive matters on public platforms. They were advised to raise such issues only in party meetings. Stating that the party had already expressed its stand on the Telangana issue, the leadership told the members that it was improper for the members to take a stand different from the party's stand.

Hyderabad, Jan 14: Two Andhra Pradesh ministers from Telangana region Monday claimed that they received indications of the central government finally making up its mind to bifurcate the state.

The ministers hoped that the central government would take a decision by month-end to carve out a separate Telangana state. Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had said after the Dec 28 all-party meet on Telangana that the government would take a decision within a month. 

One of the ministers hinted that Hyderabad could be joint capital of the two states for 10 to 12 years.

Civil Supplies Minister D. Sridhar Babu told reporters Monday that the long-cherished dream of Telangana people would soon become a reality. "We will celebrate the next Sankranti in Telangana state," he said.

On leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalseema and Andhra regions) opposing the demand for Telangana state, he appealed to them to respect the sentiments of the people of Telangana.

On what would be status of Hyderabad, Babu said it would definitely be on the map of Telangana. "Hyderabad is an important of Telangana and it definitely part of Telangana state," he said.

Another minister Danam Nagender, who had never been a strong supporter of Telangana demand, also claimed that division of the state has become inevitable.

Nagender, who hails from Hyderabad, claimed that the city could be a joint capital of the two states for 10 to 12 years. He said the central government was not likely to make Hyderabad a union territory.

Another minister Mukesh Goud, also from Hyderabad, had recently demanded that in case of formation of Telangana, Hyderabad should be given greater autonomy to protect the interests of people from other regions who have settled here.

Pro-Telangana groups have already made it clear that they want Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital.

Telangana comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member P. Goverdhan Reddy said the people of Seemandhra themselves would not agree to Hyderabad as a joint capital. 

"Hyderabad will be 200 km away for them from any direction. They would like to have their own state capital at the earliest," he said.

The MP said if Telangana state was not created, Congress party would suffer heavily in the region.

Visakhapatnam, Jan 14: Even as two ministers said they had indications that the state would be bifurcated to create Telangana, former PRP leader and Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao has asserted that the state would remain united.

Speaking to the media here on Monday, Ganta, a close associate of the union minister Chiranjeevi, said that he has clear indications that there would be no bifurcation. He said a meeting of Seemandhra leaders cutting across party lines would be held in Hyderabad on January 17, to chalk out programme to oppose bifurcation. He said he would quit his post if Telangana was announced and fight against it. He however had confidence that the state would not be divided, he added.

Hyderabad, Jan 7: Despite the brave talk of MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, his brother and party MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi appears to be fearing arrest and long term in jail as an under-trial for his inflammatory speech against Hinduism and Hindu gods. There are already charges that he was faking ill health to escape arrest. To ascertain his actual health condition, police decided not to depend on the testimony of the doctors of the Owaisi hospital owned by the family. Police would be sending a team of government doctors to give an assessment of his health condition. Hyderabad west zone DCP Sudhir Babu went to Akbar’s house and talked to him. He later told the media that Akbar complained of back pain. He said a team of government doctors would examine him on Tuesday.

Warangal range IG Venkateswara Rao told the media that following Akbaruddin's representation of ill-health, Raghu inspector of Nirmal came to Hyderabad and visited him at his residence. The IG said that the Inspector felt that Akbaruddin's health condition was suitable for him to cooperate with police investigation. Consequently, the MLA is likely to be questioned on Tuesday.

Police who were expected to pounce on him and arrest as soon as he returned from London appear to be following a cautious approach because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Soon after coming to Hyderabad, Akbar sent two of his lawyers to Nirmal of Adilabad district and Nizamabad from where he received police summons. The lawyers explained the police that the MLA was still indisposed and would appear before them in 4 days to give personal statement. However, Nirmal police came to Hyderabad and visited Akbaruddin’s residence to know facts. They questioned him in the presence of doctors. After knowing firsthand information about his health, they also recorded his statement.

Police were unfazed when MIM workers gave “Police go back” slogans. They gave a second notice to Akbar to appear before them. Later, Hyderabad west zone DCP Sudhir Babu also went to Akbar’s house and questioned him.

Meanwhile, noose is slowly tightening around Akbar’s neck. Responding to a petition, Nampalli court directed the petitioner, a lawyer, to state if action could be taken against Akbar, a legislator, without the permission of the Speaker. The lawyer told the court that Akbar’s speech amounted to treason and needed no permission. He has submitted CDs of the speech to the court.

Making the situation further difficult for Akbar, two more cases were also registered against him. A case was registered at Janagaon in Warangal district and another in Vijayawada. The court in Vijayawada directed Krishna Lanka police to register a case against the MLA. The seriousness of the situation became evident when the DGP said that the MIM MLA would have to appear before the investigating officers. While a total bandh was observed in Nirmal on Monday, BJP called for Nizamabad bandh on Tuesday. Adilabad police are also planning to send a team of doctors to ascertain the actual health condition of Akbar even as the BJP said that he was faking ill-health, fearing arrest.

The ethics committee of the Assembly took a serious note of the speech of Akbaruddin bordering treason. Committee member and CPI Deputy Floor Leader Koonamneni Sambasiva Rao expressed the view that action should be taken against Akbar as his remarks were against the constitution. He even suggested his disqualification. Other members also supported him. Committee chairman B Satryananda Rao said the committee if necessary could debar the MLA. The committee would examine the speech videos and recommend action to the Speaker at its next meeting.

All indications suggest that the police were slowly shortening the circle around the MLA and cutting his escape routes. When they tighten the case, it might result in prolonged incarceration.

In the wake of recent Delhi rape incident, Andhra Wishesh team carried out a drive across the city to find out if Hyderabad was a safe place. Unfortunately, it isn't in the words of many girls and young women who complained to our team that harassment that they go through at many bus stops in the city. Even our team found out the way men were trying to approach these women but on seeing our team, they fled from the scene. Here are some of the places that women-time and again-go through series of comments passed by miscreants.

Srinagar bus stop: Our team noticed that several youth pass lewd comments on the girls.

Secunderabad railway station main bus stand: The main bus stop, from where buses leave for Mehedipatnam, in Secunderabad is a crowded place. With so many people trying to search for buses and with the horns of buses, no one would really pay concentration on the surroundings. We often presume that bustling streets are safe. Take time and observe around, you will notice a bunch of youths who stare at women. Same is the situation at Secunderabad bus stop. When women pass by the lane next to Alfa Hotel, several youths pass lewd comments and they even try to approach them.

Koti Sultan Bazar: This is another bustling street wherein women throng to purchase fancy items. However, you can also observe some youths who would be wandering aimlessly. They pass comments and try to approach the women on streets in the pretext of searching for some stores or items.

Nagole: There's a wine shop just behind the bus stop. Although our team didn't see anyone commenting, but staring at women standing in
bus stops was observed. Also, our team was shocked to note the way people booze outside the wine shop and in the open place next to that place.

Measures:

The Hyderabad police should take up the matter seriously. In fact, the above mentioned places are just examples. There could be many more places wherein women might feel unsafe. Andhra Wishesh strongly advocates and demands that following measures should be adopted at these places with immediate effect as situation at these places was alarming.

At least three constables including women police should be asked to picket at all these places

Two cops should be allowed to sit in a building and observe the area with binoculars or telescopes. If they suspect that a group is laughing or looking at a woman/girl, they should immediately alert the nearby constables and apprehended

Posters should be stuck to the walls, by the police, that eve teasers would not be spared with illustrations since most of the eve teasers are apparently uneducated

Media should also keep an eagle eye on these areas

One or two constables should be ordered to picket the areas in civil to take note of regular eve teasers

While uproar is going on across the country over Delhi rape, perverts in the country are still resorting to heinous crimes. Women in Hyderabad too are seriously worried over the same. Let us stop Hyderabad from hitting headlines for Hyderabad. Let us all join hands and not rely entirely on police. Wherever such incident takes place (eve teasing), let us condemn it and safeguard women.

(issued in the interest of the public)

Hyderabad, Dec 31: Gade Venkat Reddy, a Seemandhra Congress leader, who participated in the recent all-party meeting in New Delhi on December 28 on Telangana issue as a representative of the Congress from the Seemandhra region asserted that Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had not said that the Congress was in favour of division of the State. He also said that he would retire from politics if anybody proved that Sushil Kumar Shinde had announced that the Congress was inclined to divide the State. 

Speaking to the media at the CLP office here on Monday, Gade said he batted for the United Andhra Pradesh and argued in favor of Samaikyandhra and K R Suresh Reddy argued in favor of separate Telangana State. Gade said there was no truth in the reports published by a section of the media that Sushil Kumar Shinde did not allow him to speak at the meeting. 

Faulting K R Suresh Reddy’s statement that Shinde had said that the Congress was in favour of division of the State, Gade said, “I am sorry to say that he twisted the facts”. Reiterating that there was no unanimous opinion in the Congress party on Telangana issue, Gade said he would stick to whatever decision taken by the party high command though he was a staunch integrationist. 

Alleging that the TDP had adopted separate Telangana stand only to disturb the Congress politically as it was done in 2009 elections by entering into an alliance with the TRS, he said the TDP and CPI were adopting opportunistic political policy on Telangana issue by changing their stand now and then. He said there was no need to bother about YSRCP, which said nothing at all-party meeting.

The Seemandhra leader said the Congress high command directed the Congress representatives to express their individual views and it was not correct to say that the Congress was for division of the State. He said the Congress was not a sub-regional party to have consensus.

He said the Centre was the final authority to take a decision on Telangana issue and all have to abide by it. He felt that the TDP would face severe repercussions soon for agreeing division of the State. He also quoted former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s statement that division of the State was not correct.

Hyderabad, Dec 26: Notwithstanding the high expectations that a section of Congress leaders have, the all-party meeting convened by the central government over the Telangana issue Dec 28 is not likely to achieve any breakthrough in finding a solution to the contentious issue.

With just two days to go for the much-awaited meet, three major parties in Andhra Pradesh are yet to name their representatives, indicating their dilemma in taking a clear stand on the issue. 

The ruling Congress, the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the YSR Congress, which is emerging as a key force, remain divided along regional lines.

With Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde inviting two representatives from each party, all the three are under pressure to send delegates from both Telangana and Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions).

While their leaders from Telangana want statehood, their counterparts from Seemandhra are opposed to Andhra Pradesh's division. 

Five other parties invited to the meet which have taken a clear stand on the issue have announced their representatives.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) want a Telangana state. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) are opposed to the state's bifurcation.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, in-charge of party affairs in the state, has dampened the spirits of Telangana leaders by stating that since Shinde recently took over as the home minister, he convened the meeting to know the views of the parties afresh.

Political observers say if eliciting the opinion of the parties is the purpose of the meeting, it will not achieve any breakthrough. 

Since the divergent views in the major parties are known and with no hopes of unanimity, the meeting may end in a failure like the two previous ones held in 2010 and 2011.

Congress leaders from Telangana, including some MPs, had asked Shinde to invite only one representative from each party.

The Congress is finding itself in a tight spot over the issue as there is pressure both from within and outside to take a clear stand. 

The TDP and the YSR Congress are in fact waiting for the ruling party to declare its stand.

The Congress is reluctant. "We will take a stand after hearing other parties," said state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana.

A section of Congress leaders are pessimistic about the outcome of the all-party meeting. 

They believe the central government is not inclined to carve out Telangana state as this could trigger demands for smaller states in other parts of the country.

The Congress leadership is keen to drag the issue till the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Some of its leaders from Telangana, however, have warned that the party may have to pay a heavy price in the region. 

With the TRS and pro-Telangana groups threatening to crush parties which don't support the Telangana demand, both the Congress and TDP face desertions in the region, made up of 10 districts including Hyderabad.

The upcoming meeting appears to be aimed at pacifying a section of its MPs from Telangana who set Dec 9 as the deadline for an announcement on taking forward the Telangana movement.

The Srikrishna committee report, submitted in December 2010, is also gathering dust. The panel had mooted six possible solutions to the issue.