Telangana region welcomes separate state decision

Hyderabad: The announcement favouring formation of a separate Telangana state was met with joy in the region, while evoking disappointment from the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is seen as the political face of the separate statehood agitation over the last 12 years, welcomed the announcement of Congress and the UPA, but sought clarification on Hyderabad being made a common capital. "We welcome this decision. They have made Telangana with 10 districts. I am happy about it. But what is the common capital? That has to be clarified," he told reporters here after holding consultations with his party leaders over Congress` announcement. Asked about the possibility of TRS merging with the Congress, he did not give a direct reply, saying, "That comes later, but let me tell you I am happy about the decision". However, Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) Chairman M Kodandaram said that they need to be "alert" until the bill for formation of a separate Telangana state is passed in the Parliament. Hailing the Congress` decision, Andhra Pradesh ministers and leaders from the Telangana region thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the announcement. The decision was welcomed by various pro-Telangana parties and groups in the region, who celebrated the occasion by bursting crackers and congratulating each other. Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy assured that the people from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema need not have any fears and that they could live in Telangana state "like brethren". Congress` decision favouring division of Andhra Pradesh met with disappointment and anger in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions. Several students` bodies and other pro-united Andhra Pradesh outfits called a bandh in towns like Kadapa, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. United Andhra supporters held candle light processions and other forms of protest. Congress MLAs from Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh would meet tomorrow to discuss their future course of action in the wake of UPA favouring the formation of separate Telangana. "Yes, Congress MLAs from Rayalaseema (are meeting)," state Minor Irrigation Minister T G Venkatesh told PTI here, before Congress announced its decision in Delhi. Responding to a query, he said all issues, including that of whether the leaders from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra would quit from the assembly on Telangana issue, would be discussed tomorrow. A report from Kadapa said Congress MLA from Jammalamadugu C Adinarayana Reddy said he would resign from the House as well as party. The united Andhra JAC`s convener in Kadapa district S Ramachandra Reddy has begun an indefinite fast against the decision. AP Congress spokesman and chairman of the 20-point programme N Tulasi Reddy has also quit his post in Kadapa, while main opposition TDP`s chief whip D Narendra said the decision was taken with only for "votes and seats" as the criteria. Senior TDP leader Y Ramakrishnudu said the process of division of assets should be proper and that his party would stand by the people of the three regions. Congress MLA J C Diwakar Reddy, who hails from Rayalaseema, said he felt pained over the issue. PTI