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Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chadrasekhar Rao, or KCR as he's known, condemned the Centre's stand on Telangana statehood on Wednesday, saying that the Government had "betrayed" pro-Telangana groups. A government statement hours earlier, seemed to put the creation of a new state of Telangana on the back-burner. KCR was quick to react, and immediately faxed his resignation as Mahbubnagar's representative in the Lok Sabha. "All public representative from the Telangana region will resign by noon tomorrow," added an angry KCR. His party too has called for a 48-hour bandh starting Thursday. Government bus services have been suspended on most routes across the Telangana region, and there are reports of panic buying ahead of the bandh. After incidents of protest at Osmania University and other areas, the state government imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Mahbubnagar - till January 1. On Wednesday evening, Home Minister P Chidambaram said that the situation in Andhra Pradesh "has changed" since the Centre sanctioned a Telangana state two weeks ago. Chidambaram pointed out that the centre's decision was made after political parties arrived at a consensus at a meeting called by the Andhra Chief Minister, K Rosaiah. Acknowledging that there are now wide differences, the Home Minister said that the government now needs to "hold lengthy discussions with all concerned in the process." (Watch: Chidambaram's new statement on Telangana crisis) Chidambaram also said the State government must be allowed to focus on governance. "We appeal to political parties and students to withdraw their agitations and maintain peace and harmony." But both consensus and harmony are likely to remain elusive in Andhra. The state has been tense for most of this month, with almost-daily clashes between pro and anti-Telangana supporters. KCR warned the Centre minutes before Chidambaram's public statement to not express a sentiment "that will provoke Telangana." KCR's party is at the centre of the Telangana movement. On Tuesday, he threatened that 100 pro-Telangana MLAs are ready to resign if the government reverses its decision. An 11-day fast by him earlier this month is credited with forcing the central government to make a shock midnight announcement Okaying a new state. The whiplash was immediate and severe. MLAs from different political parties, including the Congress, handed in their resignations. Chief Minister K Roasaih was forced to distance himself from the Centre's decision, claiming that his party leaders had not consulted him. Opposition leaders Chandrababu Naidu and Chiranjeevi did a quick u-turn. After pledging their support to a new state, they said they were changing their minds, as their parties faced the very real danger of splitting. Chiranjeevi resigned as an MLA, taking "moral responsibility" for his change in policy. Taking their cue from KCR's fast, several other leaders went on a hunger strike to demand a 'United Andhra'. Most visible among them, L Rajagopal, the Congress MP from Vijayawada, who was arrested earlier this week after his health deteriorated. He was rushed to a Vijayawada hospital from where he orchestrated an "escape" while 300 policemen were on guard. He then reappeared in Hyderabad 15 hours later, pulling up in an auto rickshaw to the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences. Rajagopal sprinted into his hospital and hopped into bed. The government wanted to keep him away from the capital, worried that his arrival would lead to violent protests. |
