Hyderabad: The announcement of the separate state of Telangana on Tuesday saw a backlash on Wednesday as protests against the decision erupted in the other two regions now being referred to as Seemandhra. A bandh was observed throughout the Seemandhra region. There was a complete shutdown in some places and in others it was only partial.
Violence erupted in Anantapur town as a large number of students came out on to the streets to protest the division of AP. Students from Sri Krishnadevaraya University and colleges resorted to burning and damaging statues of Congress leaders and pelted stones at the police.
It was like what Osmania University students used to do when they were agitating for the creation of a separate Telangana state. Tirupati, Guntur and Visakhapatnam were other flash points.
Seema leaders want capital from their area
The main demands of Rayalaseema ministers are that a new capital for Seemandhra should be located in the Rayalaseema region, a special financial package be prepared for the development of Rayalaseema, and water for irrigation must be assured (since the two main rivers are now located in Telangana).
The Seemandhra leaders discussed the latest political situation at a meeting on Wednesday. Speaking to the press afterwards, ministers T.G. Venkatesh, E. Pratap Reddy and Ahamadulla said that every time injustice is done to their area. “A developed Hyderabad has gone to Telangana, Andhra got Polavaram as a national project, but nothing has come to Rayalaseema.”
Since they have sacrificed the capital in the past, the new capital should be located in Rayalaseema, preferably in Kurnool, they said, and pointed out that the Srikrishna Committee had said that the most backward area is Rayalaseema. They are also demanding a special financial package and assured water for irrigation.
Incidentally, YSR Congress MLAs G. Srikan Reddy and Srinivasulu have also demanded that the new capital be based in Rayalaseema and suggested Tirupati as most suitable. Venkatesh and Pratap Reddy are still hoping to keep the state intact and are discussing how to defeat the Telangana Bill to be introduced in Parliament.
Hurry up on capital, says Naidu
Reconciled to a separate Telangana, TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu asked the Centre to ensure speedy development of all backward regions besides creating a new capital like Hyderabad for Seemandhra with an investment of Rs 45 lakh crore.
Naidu not to reveal poll plans
Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu stood his ground on Telangana and said the party had favoured statehood in tune with the sentiments of the people of the region.
The question now doing the rounds in TD circles is which state Naidu will opt to contest from in the next polls and whether he would shift to the Centre leaving the field to his son Nara Lokesh.
Sources said that Naidu has asked party leaders of both regions not to give away anything at this stage since the party fared well in the panchayat polls in both the regions despite supporting Telangana.
“In 2008, in tune with the aspirations of the people of this (Telangana) region, Telugu Desam had sent a letter favouring a separate Telangana to the Centre. Due to historical reasons some regions are backward. Hyderabad as the state capital had developed in various spheres during Telugu Desam rule,” he said.
Naidu said that he had discussed the new state capital issue with party leaders threadbare. “To develop a new capital like Hyderabad in the Seemandhra region, it requires huge infrastructure, investment, grants and purchase of lands. It may require Rs 5 lakh crore. An expert committee has to be set up which will analyse all the requirements,” he added.