Samaikya Andhra Movement or Samaikyandhra Udyamam (Telugu: సమైక్యాంధ్ర ఉద్యమము; United Andhra Movement) is a people's movement organized to keep the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh united, and to prevent the division of the state - separating the Telangana districts of the state into a separate Telangana state.The movement is supported by students from 14 universities, advocates, government employees in Andhra, Rayalaseema regions & Hyderabad along with various occupational, caste & religious groups.The current set of protests which were triggered after the Congress Working Committee decision to divide the state are going on for the last 65 days.
The movement took shape on 9 December 2009, when as a result of a 11-day fast by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced that the Indian government would start the process of forming a separate Telangana
state pending the introduction and passage of a separation resolution
in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. The announcement resulted in widespread
protests across Andhra and Rayalseema regions.
In the Indian Parliament, MPs belonging to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) & Congress parties along with Jagan Mohan Reddy protested by holding placards favoring a United Andhra Pradesh state. Lagadapati Rajagopal
began an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the state be kept
united. His strike received support from leaders and activists of all
political parties and several elected representatives and leaders of the
Congress went on a relay hunger strike extending their support to the
MP.
Students, workers, lawyers & various organizations in the regions
launched agitations and peaceful demonstrations (dharnas) demanding
that the state be kept united. MLAs from these regions also submitted their resignations in protest seeking a reversal of the home minister's statement.[8] Two activists also allegedly committed suicide in protest against the division of the state.
TDP leaders including MLAs Devineni Uma and Paritala Sunitha,
who were on a fast-unto-death as an act of protest in Vijayawada,
Ananthapur, Guntur, Ongole etc. were arrested and forcibly shifted by
the police to hospitals. However, these leaders continued their strike
by refusing medical treatment. In Kadapa, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR)'s brother and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy
also fasted in support of united Andhra accompanied by his wife and
followers who sat on a relay hunger strike. Another Congress leader who
was fasting was also forcibly taken to hospital. A Praja Rajyam Party leader whose condition turned critical on the sixth day of his fast was rushed to hospital in Tadipatri.
Four students of Andhra University became critical when their indefinite fast continued for 11 days. The TDP organised a half-naked procession in Vishakapatnam.At Sri Venkateswara University, actor Mohan Babu sat on a day-long fast in the campus expressing solidarity with the students who were already on a hunger strike.
On 23 December, keeping in view the reactions of people of other
regions, the Government of India announced that no action on Telangana
will be taken until a consensus is reached by all parties and groups in
the state.
Samaikyandhra movement proponents continued the movement demanding a
clear stand from the central government that the state will remain
united and will not be divided. On 3 February 2010, the government
announced a five-member committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Srikrishna to look into the issue. It also announced Terms of Reference to the Srikrishna Committee, with a deadline of 31 December 2010 to submit its report.
Arguments & Concerns of Protestors
Income: Proponents of the Samaikyandhra Movement argue that a
division of the state will be detrimental to the other regions as
majority of the state's income comes from the capital Hyderabad and the implementation of welfare programmes would not be possible in other regions if the state is divided.
Employment & Education: Students feel that in case of a division, educated youth of other backward regions like those in Rayalaseema will be denied employment opportunities. Further, due to the division, many top engineering colleges such as CBIT, MGIT, Vasavi, Mathrusri falling under the purview of Osmania University will become unavailable for students of Andhra & Rayalaseema regions.
Engineering graduates fear that several government and private
institutions for training in job-oriented courses are located in
Hyderabad and if the state is divided the residual state will not have
any of these institutes. They also feel that losing a software hub like
Hyderabad will cost a lot to the students.
Medical students also fear that since 85 per cent of super specialty
course seats were allotted to colleges in Telangana, students from other
regions may not be able to pursue important PG courses like cardiology.
Water: Division of the state, they argue, would also result in
water problems in Andhra & Rayalaseema since Telangana is on the
upstream of Krishna & Godavari rivers.
Farmers & water-users associations express fear that division of
the state would render upland areas in Krishna delta into a desert and
force farmers to migrate as daily wage earners. According to water experts, thePolavaram Project
could take upto 15 years for completion and due to the state division
its reservoir would be located in Telangana region which could further
intensify the already existing interstate disputes over the project.
Safety & Security in Hyderabad: People in Andhra &
Rayalaseema regions express worries about the safety of their friends
and relatives who have settled in the state capital, Hyderabad and the
fear that they would be considered ‘non-locals’ in their own state. They
also opine that they are not ready to lose Hyderabad since they had
contributed more for the development of Hyderabad.
Questions & Myths on Telangana demand: They also believe
that the demand to carve out a separate state of Telangana is
unreasonable, since far greater development took place in many towns and
cities of Telangana region while other parts of the State were lagging
behind in many aspects. This was validated by the Srikrishna Committee in its report.
They demand that a proper survey needs to be conducted to establish the
backwardness of each region before taking a decision over the
bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. They feel that all the areas of north
Andhra region barring Visakhapatnam city would come under backward area.
Similarly they also feel that the myth that smaller states develop
faster is wrong, since many states are currently facing a whole lot of
problems because of lack of sufficient resources and exploitation. Several people also mention that small states would lead to problems of Naxalism.
Eminent Journalist Kuldip Nayar
also felt that small states do not necessarily bring about prosperity.
He went on to say that the people in Punjab are now realising that
bifurcation of the state was a big mistake. India's social activist and anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare
said that creation of Telangana state will not only encourage the
demand for newer states, but also new districts which will weaken the
country.
Sri Krishna Committee Report
The five member committee
headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna toured all the regions of state
extensively and invited people from all sections of the society to give
their opinion on the statehood. It received over one lakh petitions and
representations from political parties, organisations, NGOs and
individuals. It also held consultations with political parties and
general public while also factoring in the impact of recent developments
on different sections of people such as women, children, students,
minorities, Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes. In a report submitted to the Home Ministry
of India on 30 December 2010, the committee favoured the option to keep
the State united and providing for creation of a statutorily empowered
Telangana Regional Council for socio-economic development and political
development of Telangana region.
Samaikhyandhra proponents welcomed the report and supported the recommended option.
Telangana leaders rejected the recommendations of the Sri Krishna
Committee Report and insisted on the formation of a separate Telangana
State with Hyderabad as its capital.
Congress Core Committee Meeting
On 1 July, Congress party's in-charge of the state, Digvijay Singh said that party is at the final stages of taking decision on Telangana issue. He also directed state chief minister, deputy chief minister and state party president (they represent assembly constituencies in Rayalaseema, Telangana and Coastal Andhra regions respectively) to furnish a roadmap, keeping both options open, that could help lead to a decision.Amidst reports of the central government reportedly moving towards a decision on the Telangana issue, 4 MLAs & 2 MLCs belonging to the Congress, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) & TDP tendered token resignations to protest against division of the state. SVJAC activists also submitted a representation to Digvijaya Singh not to divide the State after several committees set up had not decided against creation of Telangana. They expressed apprehension that Rayalaseema and Coastal areas would face water and power problems and would slip into backwardness with lands turning into desert. Small states would also lead to problems of Naxalism, JAC State convener D.V. Krishna Yadav and others said in a statement.
In a meeting on 5 July in Anantapur, Samaikyandhra JAC decided to hold a large number of meetings in various districts to exert pressure against dividing the state. A large number of activists from the Samaikyandhra JAC took out a rally at Dharmavaram in Anantapur district. In a related development, Union minister of state for Railways Kotla Jayasurya Prakasha Reddy met Digvijay Singh and represented to him that state should be kept united.
In Vishakapatnam, activists of the Samaikya Andhra Porata Samithi (SAPS) staged a protest and appealed to MP Purandeswari by sending her an Ashada Masa gift of turmeric, kumkum, bananas, sweetmeats and a saree (usually presented by brothers to married sisters during Ashada Masam) through parcel services. They also sent a Kamandala and Vibhoodhi (holy ash) to T. Subbarami Reddy, indirectly urging him to take up the issue seriously or be prepared for political exile. The activists also threatened to lay siege on their houses in Vizag, if they failed to respond positively to their cause for a united Andhra. SAPS state president GA Narayana Rao alleged that the two leaders were neither lobbying for united Andhra in Delhi with the Congress high command nor were they meeting with Seemandhra leaders to express their support to the cause. A group of activists also burnt an effigy of the state government at Andhra University even as another group of activists conducted a meeting of intellectuals supporting the united Andhra cause. While at the intellectuals meet held at the public library, a majority of speakers opposed the government's attitude toward bifurcation, they said they would not accept a division of the state.
In Vijayawada, a meeting was organized under the leadership of Lagadapati Rajagopal which was attended by Union minister J D Seelam who asserted their stand in keeping the state united.
In Guntur, Students JAC called for educational institutions bandh to protest the arrest of JAC leaders during the visit of Union minister Kavuri Sambasiva Rao. Another MP, Rayapati launched a signature campaign organized by the Acharya Nagarjuna University students. A large number of students from local colleges participated in the signature campaign and warned that they would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives if the state was split into two.
In Ongole, Student activists laid a siege to the house of Congress MLA B.N.Vijaykumar demanding his resignation for the cause of united Andhra Pradesh. Ahead of the July 12 meeting of Congress core committee, which is expected to discuss the vexed Telangana issue, the students insisted that the legislator put in his papers to put pressure on the Centre to avert the division of the state at any cost.
In Srikakulam, activists conducted rallies and formed human chains in the district asking the Congress not to take any decision in favour of Telangana State saying that it would affect the interests of backward areas such as Srikakulam. Agitators staged a protest in front of the house of Union Minister of State for Communications and Technology Killi Krupa Rani at Tekkali asking her to make a statement in favour of United Andhra Pradesh.
In Tirupati, students of various educational institutes took out a massive rally and formed a human chain at the busy town club circle while advocates decided to boycott their duties. In a meeting jointly convened by SAPS and Sri Venkateswara University Teachers Association (SVUTA) intellectuals strongly opposed the state bifurcation saying that they have already sacrificed two state capital cities Chennai and Kurnool during the formation of Andhra and Andhra Pradesh respectively and that they are not ready to sacrifice another capital city Hyderabad.
In Delhi, activits peacefully stood outside Digvijaya Singh's residence with posters carrying message of unity is strength and many like that.
On July 11 the state chief minister, deputy chief minister and state party president presented their views in the Congress core committee meeting, post which it was announced that a decision will be taken by the Congress Working Committee.
2013 Congress Working Committee Resolution to form Telangana
On 30 July, Indian National Congress party working committee unanimously passed a party resolution for the creation of a Telangana state. It was formally announced that the party would request the Central government to take steps in accordance with the Constitution of India to form a separate state of Telangana within a definite time frame. Andhra Pradesh and the newly formed Telangana state would share the current capital city Hyderabad as the common capital city for a period of 10 years. The Indian National Congress party also announced that all the concerns of people from remaining regions regarding sharing of water & power resources will be addressed. TRS welcomed the decision and said that their party is fine with Hyderabad being the joint capital.| 2013 United Andhra Movement | |||||||||||||
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Public Protests Aftermath
The decision to create a separate state triggered protests across the Andhra & Rayalaseema regions and by several government employee unions in Hyderabad.First Week
A bandh was observed on 31 July amidst sporadic protests by students, the NGOs (the non-gazetted government employees) and other sections of the public. Protesters raised slogans and burnt effigies of Sonia Gandhi and KCR.In Vizianagaram, a home guard committed suicide in protest against the decision and another death, of a student, was reported from Guntur over the same issue. In Vishakapatnam, bandh was peaceful with representatives of various groups advocating the cause of an integrated state protesting at various junctions in the city expressing their ire at the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. APSRTC employees union and AP Government Doctors Association also extended their support to keep the state united. Members of the Visakhapatnam Bar Association condemned bifurcation of the State and went round the court premises holding banners demanding that the Government keep the State unified. In Ananthapur, protesters went on a rampage damaging statues of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and engaged police in a pitched battle. The furniture in some government offices were also damaged. While all educational institutes and commercial establishments voluntarily downed their businesses, the agitators obstructed the movement of buses in Tirupati. In Chittoor all commercial activity came to a standstill and educational institutions were closed. APSRTC buses were confined to depots with employees to joining the protests. In Nellore, agitators detained a train for 15 minutes and students blocked the road for 30 minutes after climbing atop city buses and raising slogans against Sonia Gandhi.[79][80] In Vijayawada, Students JAC took out a rally and raised slogans in support of Samaikyandhra. Sri Krishnadevarya University, a centre of the protests and the origin of many movements witnessed protests with students staging rasta roko on the National Highway. The university staff also joined in the protest. Samaikyandhra students JAC performed a homam. Activists of Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi took out a procession with an effigy of the Centre and performed shavayatra and last rites on the main roads of Anantapur. MIM activists of Anantapur also staged a protest against the decision to split the state.[81][82]
On 1 August, the protests and complete shutdown continued. In Kadapa protestors vandalized statue of Indira Gandhi and tried to attack the district Congress office. All private business establishments, banks, government offices, hotels remained closed. APSRTC buses, private passenger buses as well as three wheelers were off the roads. Two youth also attempted self-immolation. In Kurnool, a statue of Rajiv Gandhi was vandalized. At Proddatur, agitators observed a shut down and partially damaged a Rajiv Gandhi statue. In the East Godavari district, protests against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh continued, with APSRTC buses and government properties being damaged. In Rajahmundry, all educational, commercial, financial institutions including ATMs and government office remained closed and joined the on-going agitation. Roads were deserted after the withdrawal of APSRTC bus services due to damage caused by agitators in Peddapuram At Narsipatnam, nearly 20,000 students organised a human chain expressing their displeasure over the formation of Telangana. Lawyers also boycotted courts as part of their 72-hour boycott, demanding the central government to keep Andhra Pradesh united.
On 3 August, around 3,500 Seemandhra employees in the Secretariat boycotted their duties took out a rally under the banner ‘Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Seemandhra Employees Forum’ and staged a dharna. They gheraoed minister S Sailajanath and former minister Gade Venkata Reddy who visited the Secretariat to extend their support to the agitating employees.
Muslims at many places organized iftar parties on highways and road junctions as a way of lodging protest against the division of Andhra Pradesh. Thousands of Muslims took out processions in Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Nuzvidu, Visakhapatnam, Jaggaiahpet and Kadapa and squatted on junctions to break their fast. Samaikyandhra Muslims JAC expressed fears that partition of the state would benefit the BJP in Telangana and Seemandhra regions and anti-secular forces would gain the upper hand. Religious groups such as Christian associations and Hindu priests also extended their support to the agitation. Several caste, community, trade groups also participated in protests by flaunting their respective tags. A Scheduled Castes JAC was also conducting rallies in association with the Samaikyandhra youth JAC for the past couple of weeks.
The protests also included exclusive demonstrations by advocates, teachers, students, automobile mechanics, bus and lorry owners, drivers, tailors, barbers, butchers, goldsmiths, carpenters and merchants in different parts of the region. Autorickshaw drivers took out three-wheeler rallies while lorry drivers and owners paraded their vehicles in long processions. Barbers resorted to free haircuts and tonsures while homemakers and women employees used brooms to sweep roads as a mark of protest.
On 6 August, Students of Andhra University and Sri Krishnadevaraya University clashed with the police. Business and commercial establishments, offices and road transport remained shut across coastal and Rayalaseema districts. Protesters blocked highways and roads bringing traffic to a standstill as school teachers also joined the protests. In Anantapur, agitators stopped a passenger train at the railway station. Supporters held a bike rally and also staged demonstrations in towns like Dharmavaram and Penukonda. Advocates cooked food on the roads, blocking vehicles in front of the court. In Kurnool and Nellore districts, protesters cooked food on roads, besides organising massive rallies and blocking roads. Members of the APNGO's Association and students held a protest near the residence of union minister Panabaka Lakshmi and BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu in Nellore. A large number of students squatted on roads and formed human chains in Ongole, even as united Andhra Pradesh supporters burnt effigies of KCR, in Srikakulam district. Protesters danced on roads in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts raising slogans like, "KCR down down". A rally involving heavy vehicles, tractors and autorickshaws was held in Chittoor district, while protesters burnt tyres on the roads. In Rayachoti, Rajampet and Produttoor towns of Kadapa district, protesters, including hundreds of women, held rallies in support of their demands, besides cooking food on roads. Similar protests were also held in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari and West Godavari districts. Some supporters also allegedly damaged window panes of two APSRTC buses in Chittoor district even as the Corporation managed to operate only 63.11 per cent of its total services in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions. Out of the daily scheduled 11,445 services being operated in the districts of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh, the APSRTC operated 7,223 services. The APSRTC has been making a loss of Rs 3.5 crore per day, due to the ongoing agitation, according to officials. In East Godavari district, processions, effigy burning and rasta roko by supporters marked the agitation against the state's division. People from various walks of life, including lawyers, municipal employees, doctors, students and commercial establishment workers participated in the stir. Educational, commercial and financial establishments, including banks ATMs, remained closed in the coastal Andhra district for the seventh day. The protesters, including women, raised slogans like 'United Andhra Pradesh zindabad,' and 'Hyderabad belongs to all'. Kadapa district saw rallies, dharnas and relay fasts over the bifurcation issue. The agitators shouted slogans against KCR and Sonia Gandhi. School students, teachers and businesspersons also took out rallies. Pro-AP supporters assembled near the houses of State Minister C Ramachandraiah and YSR Congress Honorary President Vijayamma demanding their resignation. Municipal employees in the district also continued their boycott of duties.
On 7 August, Goldsmiths in Vishakapatnam closed their shops voluntarily and took out a rally against bifurcation of the State. Carrying a huge effigy of KCR, depicted as the 10-headed Ravana, and the 10 heads showing the Congress leaders who were responsible for the bifurcation of the State, they raised slogans denouncing KCR and Sonia Gandhi and demanding that the State should remain united. A torch rally was organised in which Bheemunipatnam MLA M. Srinivas Rao participated. Owners of cinema theatres of Krishna district kept their halls closed for the entire day, cancelling all four shows in single-screen cinema halls and in multiplexes in support of the movement. A youth committed suicide in Chittoor district after shouting slogans in favour of ‘Samaikhyandhra Pradesh’. An unemployed engineering graduate committed suicide by consuming pesticide and held TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Union Ministers P. Chidambaram, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Digvijay Singh responsible for the State’s split.
Second Week
On 8 August, Hundreds of supporters including students and members of different organisations took out rallies in all 13 districts of Andhra & Rayalaseema. Seemandhra employees working in Secretariat held a silent protest rally in Hyderabad while at some places in the 13 districts protesters wore blind-folds during a demonstration. Some protesters also took to the street bare-chested and carried out bike rallies in Chittoor, Kadapa and Srikakulam districts. While relay hunger strike was held by protesters in Rajahmundry, others formed human chains and squatted on roads protesting the Congress and UPA's decision. Over 1,000 people have been taken into preventive custody in connection with the agitation by supporters of united Andhra Pradesh. Besides, 221 people were arrested so far and as many as 124 criminal cases were registered against the protesters in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts in the wake of the Samaikyandhra agitation, according to police. In Kakinada, MLA Thota Trimurthulu took out a padyatra while another MLA Kanna Babu performed homam (a fire ritual) while students organized bike rallies. Protests were held in various parts of the East Godavari district. Animal Husbandry Department employees staged a novel protest in Vijayawada by including the gangireddulu (decorated bullocks) and dogs as part of the protest rally. The gangireddulu, known to follow the rules of their master, carried banner with slogan that they were also opposed to bifurcation; another attraction was a dog seated on a chair with the banner — ‘asamardhulani andalamekkiste’ (if incompetent are crowned) — indirectly referring to government. Some members of the Poura Samaja Vedika sat on relay hunger strike. Gujarati and Rajasthani Samaj members took out a rally and Vijayawada Car Motor Union, taxies associations etc. took out a car rally.On 9 August, Muslims also took part in protests after prayers at Idgahs and mosques in many parts of Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool. They expressed solidarity at the relay fast venue of JACTO and also took out a rally shouting slogans for Samaikyandhra and opposing the decision to divide the state.
On 13 August,normal life was paralysed in 13 districts across Andhra & Rayalseema regions with public transport remaining off the road and over four lakh government employees going on an indefinite strike in protest against the move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. Petrol bunks, educational institutions, cinema halls, shops and establishments were closed at most places even as various forms of protests, including hunger strike, rallies and vanta varpu were organised. In Vizianagaram, all the 840 APSRTC services from nine depots in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts remained off the road, while the Collector’s office and other government departments wore a deserted look. Normal life was also affected in Prakasam district as bandh was observed by Samaikyandhra JAC leaders. Taxi owners took out a procession and burnt an effigy of KCR in Ongole town while the agitators set ablaze the effigy of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at Markapur. Spouses of Ministers from Andhra & Rayalaseema called on Governor E.S. L. Narasimhan and petitioned him against bifurcation of the State.
On 14 August, two agitators died & 1 attempted suicide. Protests continued in Ongole in the form of processions, effigy burning, Vanta-varpu by several protestors and a candle-light rally by electricity employees. In Rayalaseema districts, government services were crippled with the NGOs and RTC employees staging protests at their offices and depots. Nearly, 2500 APSRTC buses remained off the roads. Even private operators confined buses to garages. Protests by political activists, students, lawyers, employees, workers, women and other sections of society continued for the 15th day in a row.
Third Week
On 15 August, agitation in the East & West Godavari districts continued unabated with a several sections of the people organising a series of rallies, rasta rokos, dharnas and relay hunger strike and even blood donation camp. Students, teachers, lawyers, pensioners, traders, caste groups, government revenue employees organized several protests.On 16 August, protests continued in Rayalaseema districts with several demonstrations by lecturers, nursing students, bankers despite rains. Agitators also used different caricatures on the flexi boards & cut-outs as part of the protests.
On 18 August, Kirana Merchants Association members, LIC Agency Association members, Adikavi Nannaya University non-teaching staff, managements of private schools, Civic employees, lorry owners association, and employees from revenue and sub-treasury departments took out protests in East & West Godavari districts.
On 19 August, various teachers’ associations across Andhra & Rayalaseema formed a joint committee called Samaikyandhra Upadyaya Porata Samiti (SUPS) and decided that all government teachers of municipal, zilla parishad and other schools will boycott work indefinitely from August 22. In Vijayawada, Indian Medical Association, Indian Dental Association and other healthcare associations launched an indefinite relay hunger strike. In Rajahmundry, the Artists Association as mark of protest over the decision to bifurcate the state, organsied cultural activities. Several farmers also protested on National Highway NH 16 with their buffaloes and later distributed the milk to the locals free of cost. In Vishakapatnam, members of Samaikyandhra Hindu-Muslim Forum burnt effigies of Sonia Gandhi and KCR.
On 20 August, two school kids tried to set themselves ablaze during a rally in Kurnool. In Hyderabad, energy department employees along with Vishalandhra Mahasabha convenor, Parakala Prabhakar, held lunch hour demonstrations. Secretariat Seemandhra employees continued their boycott of duties and protested in a novel way by taking out a rally with flowers in their ears and enacting a skit by donning the roles of Congress leaders and Ministers including Sonia Gandhi. They also gheraoed the Municipal Administration Minister. In Nellore, APNGOs and the AP Revenue Employees’ Association also went ahead with their agitation with support coming from the district level and gazetted officers. Several top revenue officials including an additional Joint Collector took part in the rally. EAMCET councelling was disrupted briefly by agitators.
On 21 August, as part of the indefinite strike, the members of APNGO’s association blocked the National Highway at several regions in Ananthapur, Kurnool & Kadapa districts. Arts college lecturers demonstrated protest by decorating flowers in the ears in Anantapur. Protest continued at the SKU demanding a reversal of the decision on the Telangana issue. Government medical college and general hospital doctors and staff participated in a protest at Kurnool.
Fourth Week
On 22 August, a rally named Laksha Gala Ghosha (cry of one lakh voices) in Kurnool saw an impressive turn out of supporters and students. In Hyderabad, employees of secretariat organized blood donation camps. In Rajahmundry, students and supporters formed a human chain on NH- 16. Also, people belonging to several political parties, educational institutions, Chamber of Commerce and NGOs, advocates, civic employees carried out relay hunger strikes. Singer Ghazal Srinivas rendered songs in support of Telugu pride and the movement. In Kadapa, 12,000 teachers went on strike leading to closure of all the Government and unaided schools. Mandal education officers, principals of junior colleges, headmasters and teachers of Government and private schools, hundreds of ICDS, DWCRA and anganwadi workers and girl students of junior and degree colleges and other district-level women officials led a huge “Mahila Garjana” rally to the collectorate and formed human chain and paid tributes to Potti Sriramulu statue. A bullock cart rally was taken out in Rayachoti and electricity and revenue employees protested in Rajampet by placing flowers in their ears.On 23 August, in Rajahmundry, non-gazetted employees, civic employees, lawyers, students of Adikavi Nannaya University continued relay hunger strike for several days. Rajahmundry Bar Association members wearing black coats took out bike rally expressing their opposition for the proposed bifurcation. At Amalapuram, several employees, students and supporters of several political parties took out rallies. At Eluru, the protagonists of Samaikyandhra organised a series of demonstrations at several centres in the town. Civic employees organised vanta varpu at municipal corporation office while women employees played Cricket. Revenue employees took part in deekshas organised at Fire Station centre while purohits performed deekshas. Zilla Parishad employees offered a representation in a symbolic manner opposing proposed bifurcation of the state to the statue of Indira Gandhi at ZP premises. Farmers took out a protest rally with bullock carts. In Nellore, large number of students studying in different private and government schools took part in a protest by standing in a formation that depicts Andhra Pradesh map and Samaikyandhra in words. Aqua farmers, Muslims organised rallies while relay hunger strikes continued. In Ananthapur too, many Muslims joined the agitations after Friday prayers.
On 24 August, in Vijayawada, students of various schools, intermediate, degree and engineering colleges took out rallies and released black balloons in protest. Samaikyandhra Engineering Students JAC formed a human chain and raised slogans demanding Congress not to divide AP. In Rajahmundry, a section of farmers staged a novel protest by portraying the ministers as pests on a flexi banner and sprayed pesticide on them in a symbolic manner to get rid of them. In Bhimavaram, nearly 1,500 students from several schools sported the dress of revolutionary leader Alluri Seetarama Raju and took out a rally up to Prakasam Chowk and rendered patriotic songs. Several employees, managements of educational institutions, teachers and others staged dharnas, rasta roko and formed human chain and even performed homam. In Kurnool district, protests, dharnas and rallies continued expressing solidarity to agitation from various sections of people. The teachers JAC picketed the residence of Union minister Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy, minister T.G. Venkatesh’s office and minister Erasu Prathap Reddy’s residence.
On 25 August, in Ananthapur, the teachers JAC led by JACTO took up a mass post card movement by sending post cards to Congress president Sonia Gandhi demanding to withdraw the decision to bifurcate the state. AP Transco employees staged a Vanta Varpu at Vidyut Bhavan as part of their protest in Kurnool. Blood donation camps were held at Nandyal and other centers by activists as part their protest. In Kadapa, roads were blocked after AP NGOs, teachers and gazetted officers and non-political JAC activists staged a protest. The relay hunger protest was reached its 22nd day at the collectorate in Kadapa district. Additional joint collector and District Revenue Officer expressed their solidarity with the agitators, who are on the hunger fast. In Hyderabad, Telangana advocate JAC (TAJAC) members tried to interfere in a meeting of Unified Andhra Advocate JAC. The TAJAC members said no anti-Telangana meetings should be held in Hyderabad and entered into the building shouting slogans and allegedly tore the banners posters of unified state. Police booked a case against the agitators under section 151 of the CrPc.In Vishakapatnam, voicing anguish over the silence of the 10 Union ministers, belonging to Seemandhra, leaders and activists of Samaikyandhra Vidyarthi joint action committee performed “pinda pradanam” to their portraits.
On 26 August, a 72-hour bandh called by United JAC began in Ananthapur. Normal life was hit at all mandal headquarters, municipalities and district headquarters following the indefinite strike by the AP NGOs Association, Gazetted Officers Association and RTC employees. The protesters closed all main roads including NH-44 and did not permit even two-wheelers and autorickshaws at the main centres. Central government offices and banks remained closed and many roads were deserted following the 72-hour bandh in the district. Thousands of Muslim women formed a human chain shouting slogans against the decision to divide the state. Junior doctors staged a relay fast at the main gate of the general hospital demanding that the state be kept united. The Sri Krishnadevaraya University JAC staged a protest wearing neem leaves. In Kurnool, a large number of activists of the NGOs association took out a rally at the Rajvihar Centre. APSRTC buses remained confined to depots. Advocates took out a protest rally against the attack on Seemandra advocates at the APNGO Bhavan in Hyderabad by Telangana activists. In Vijayawada, hundreds of students led by Samaikyandhra Students’ JAC stage a novel protest by getting down in the river at the Kanakadurga temple. The students raised pro-Samaikyandhra slogans and performed pujas to the temple’s presiding deity seeking unity of the state. About a 1,000 members of Cooperative Employees JAC took out a rally extending support to the movement. Hundreds of students led by Telugu Yuvatha, staged a rasta roko at the Ring Road and played cricket on the road in protest against the proposal to divide the state. In Rajahmundry, the agitators took out rallies, staged dharnas and organised vanta varpu. Hoteliers carried out a huge rally amidst the drum beats and burnt the effigy of KCR. Later, they organised mass preparation of food on the road and served it among themselves. Congress supporters played cricket at Y-Junction. Employees from roads and buildings department formed a human chain near the Government Arts College grounds while advocates and traders too carried out their protests. Animal husbandry employees attired in the garb of Potti Sriramulu organised a relay hunger strike while they were joined by the dairy farmers. Civic employees carried out their protests and started post card campaign. In Vishakapatnam, Deputy collector cadre officers of the AP Revenue Services Association joined the indefinite work strike launched by the APNGOs. Most of the sections and office rooms in the district collectorate were locked as all the officers joined the stir. Members of the association enacted a mock court on the collectorate premises.
On 27 August, in Rajahmundry, a large number of people from a cross section of the society gathered on the NH-16 and virtually laid seize to it affecting the traffic for several hours in East Godavari district. NGOs, teachers, DWCRA women, students, traders and several others took part in the stir and raised slogans. Several of them played games while some performed dance. All religion prayers were organised. In Vishakapatnam, over 300 students of Andhra University launched a hunger strike while Samaikyandhra activists took out rallies. Andhra Pradesh NGOs Association continued with its relay hunger strike on the fifth day. KGH lab technicians, revenue staff and women employees from various departments also took part in the strike.
On 28 August, in Ananthapur, SC, ST, BC and minority leaders took a bath on the main road near the tehsildar office. Ladies Club members, Anantapur Municipal Corporation employees and advocates took part in a rally. In Vijayawada, students from various schools and colleges participated in Laksha Gala Ghosha and raised slogans.
On 29 August, in Kadiri, around a lakh people including students, employees and farmers from 10 mandals of Kadiri division assembled at the main circle for the Laksha Gala Garjana (roar of one lakh voices). In Ananthapur, APSRTC employees begged on the main roads of Anantapur as part of agitation. Fruit merchants distributed fruits freely to Samaikyandhra activists. Panchayat raj women employees staged a protest wearing black saris at the tehasildar office. Medical and health staff knelt on the ground asking the Centre to withdraw its bifurcation move. In Rajahmundry, supporters of Samaikyandhra performed 'Ksheerabhishekam' to the statues of Potti Sriramulu and organised a big rally. At Eluru, a large number of supporters took out a rally. Physical education students organized a public meeting and later formed pyramids, mass drill and dances carrying the national flag to extend their support for Samaikyandhra.
Fifth Week
On 5 September, in Nellore, Laksha Gala Ghosha under the banner of Samaikyandhra Simha Garjana was held at the A.C. Subba Reddy sports stadium which was attended by over 1.25 lakh people. Every inch of the space in the vast stadium was occupied by the turnout and there was sizeable presence of women too among the gathering. Notwithstanding the scorching heat, the crowd actively raised slogans and some young girls even danced for patriotic numbers encouraged by the singers of some local orchestra groups. What surprised everyone was the voluntary turnout of people without support from any political leader or party to mobilise the crowds. All roads in Nellore led to the stadium between 8 am and 12 noon and everyone coming from outside walked anywhere between 5 km to 8 km to reach the venue as police prevented entry of vehicles to avoid any inconvenience to pedestrians heading to the stadium.On 6 September, in Rajahmundry, a large number of students led by private educational institutions joint action committee took out a massive rally and squatted on the road and formed a human chain affecting vehicular traffic. They rendered Telugu patriotic song Ma Telugu Thalliki Mallepu Danda in unison and took oath to continue their fight to keep the state united. Students from municipal corporation schools staged a demonstration carrying a tri-colour measuring nearly 200 ft in length. Several pensioners took out a rally and later submitted a representation in a symbolic manner to the statue of Potti Sriramulu to keep the state united. Students from Aditya Degree College donated blood in a mega blood donation camp. In Kadapa, the Aryavysya Sangham held a demonstration with a nearly 900-feet long national flag. Students from various institutions, traders, teachers and SHG women took part in the demo. In Kurnool district, Betamcherla, a small mandal headquarters, became the venue for a mega procession with the national flag by the Betamcherla mandal JAC on Friday. A nearly 350-feet long national flag was displayed during the procession by the students, SHG women, NGOs and teachers of Betamcherla mandal. In Hyderabad, Samaikyandhra advocates group wanted to form a human chain from the High Court premises towards Madina Circle while pro-Telangana group, opposing the same, tried to obstruct it and sought to take out a rally. Seemandhra advocates accused their counterparts from Telangana region of "attacking" them when they were planning to form a human chain against the move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. However, pro-Telangana advocates asserted that they were attacked by Seemandhra advocates.
Save Andhra Pradesh Meeting in Hyderabad
On 7 September, In Hyderabad, Government employees asserted that they would settle for nothing less than undivided Andhra Pradesh at their impressive public meeting Save Andhra Pradesh, organised by the AP Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association at LB Stadium amid heightened tension on account of the Telangana bandh call, sporadic attacks and heavy police restrictions. The stadium was packed to capacity. Organisers estimated the total turnout to be in the range of 40,000 to 50,000. All the galleries and the ground were packed with employees from various departments. During the meeting, APNGOs president Ashok Babu said the people of Seemandhra were not ready to accept division or give up Hyderabad as their livelihood is linked to the city. He said that Indira Gandhi ordered for United Andhra Pradesh but the Congress decided to carve out separate Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital. Ashok Babu, strongly objected to the restrictions imposed by the police on live coverage of the meeting. He reminded that they have conducted the meeting with the permission of the police and the High Court. He questioned as to how far it was justifiable to impose restrictions on live coverage of the meeting of APNGOs. It was undemocratic to muzzle the voice of media, he said. He cautioned that they would further intensify their agitation, if the Telangana Bill was introduced in Parliament, not considering the sentiments of Seemandhra people. He also revealed a plan to conduct a million march in Parade Grounds in Hyderabad.
The bandh call by Telangana JAC came after the city police gave permission to the pro-united AP state government employees to organise a public meeting but denied the same to pro-Telangana groups. The Telangana JAC dubbed this as discriminatory attitude of the state government.
Scores of pro-Telangana supporters, masquerading as students, gathered clandestinely in the Nizam College hostel building adjacent to the LB Stadium and hurled stones at employees from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions, who were making way into the stadium. Police, who entered the hostel building to disperse the violent mob, were also greeted with stones. However, police in riot gear took several ‘outsiders’ into custody and whisked them away from the hostel building. An Armed Reserve police constable was beaten up by policemen and Samikyandhra employees for disrupting the meeting inside the venue with Jai Telangana slogans.
In Rajahmundry, relay hunger strike camps taken up by lawyers, students of Adikavi Nannaya University, civic employees, R & B employees, members of non-political JAC continued. Several Muslim associations with Muslims joint action committee from Ravulapalem, Kothapeta, Ambajipeta, Allavaram, Mummidivaram and from other places took out a massive bike rally. Later, they formed a human chain at Clock Tower centre and raised slogans. At Ainavilli, people belonging to Salivahana community staged a novel protest by travelling in tractors while preparing the pots with mud in a rally to extend their support for the stir. At Bhimavaram, students gave a presentation depicting how the state capital Hyderabad was developed by the people from Seemandhra region and were critical over the claims of Telangana people on it. Engineering students pulled rickshaws raising slogans for Samaikyandhra. Women students pursuing engineering courses expressed their protest by writing Samaikyandhra on the pots. At Eluru, students took out a rally and formed a human chain at old bus stand. Girls bent on their kneels and raised slogans. In Vijayawada, all gazetted officers in the district, excluding the district collector, joint collector and sub-collector opted for mass casual leave in support. The indefinite strike by employees of more than 40 departments, including the RTC, treasury, municipal, panchayat and library, entered its 25th day. Traders formed a human chain across the National Highway and staged protests. At Benz Circle, Earthmovers Association members organised a huge rally and formed a human chain with about 30 earthmovers. In Nellore, Brahmins Associations took out a rally to mark their protest. Members of the Earthmoving Machines Owners Association also took out a rally and torched the effigy of KCR. The members of the Children’s Park Walkers Association cooked food on the road. The NMD trust has organised a procession with disabled decrying the move to separate the state. In Ongole, the old students of P.V.R. High School performed a Homam seeking the blessings of divine forces to stop the division. Students took out a rally and formed a human chain.In Kadapa, Advocates continued relay hunger strike for the 38th day and judicial employees for the 20th day. Advocates protested by standing on one leg on the national highway in Rajampet and demanded that High Court authorities initiate appropriate action against the erring advocates by ordering registration of cases on them. In Tirupathi, TTD Employees Coordination Committee broke 1008 coconuts at the foot of Tirumala Hills, as a form of protest as well as to pray to Lord Venkateswara to instill a sense of balance among the separatists. SV University JAC members burnt an effigy of the TJAC members in front of the varsity and condemned the attack on the APNGOs’ meeting conducted in a peaceful and democratic manner. They wondered how the same people who attacked the Seemandhra employees could ‘provide security’ for ten years in the common capital.Teaching and non-teaching employees of the five agricultural colleges, nine agricultural polytechnics, 24 research stations, 13 DAATT centres and 15 Krishi Vigyan Kendras spread across Seemandhra region applied for mass casual leave and gathered at SV Agricultural College campus to express solidarity to ‘Save Andhra Pradesh’ meeting. They carried a 530 ft-long national flag and formed a human chain on the main road.
Sixth Week
On 8 September, a large number of Muslims congregate in Anantapur and offered mass prayers for unity of the state. Activists blocked the Anantapur-Hyderabad NH-44 road at Pamidi in the district protesting against attack on the employees at Hyderabad. Scores of students and members of different organisations took to streets supporting the movement and raised slogans and took out massive rallies, formed human chains in Kurnool, Anantapur, East Godavari and other districts. Scores of students participated in human chain in Guntur district. In Vizianagaram district, TDP workers swept the streets while in Kurnool, protesters participated in cultural activities on the roads. Agitators held rasta-roko on Bengaluru highway in Anantapur district resulting in stranding of vehicles on a long stretch. Also, women staged road blockade on Kakinada-Rajahmundry route in East Godavari.On 10 September, in Vijayawada, Stainless Steel and Aluminum Manufacturers’ Association and Welding Workers Association took out rallies and formed human chain. Advocates staged a 'jala deeksha' protest by standing in the Krishna river, even as students from various educational institutions formed human chains and protested at many places in the city as well as other places in the district.At Machilipatnam, ambulance drivers took out a rally with the ambulances. Koduru, Guduru and Nidamolu mandals observed a total bandh. At Tiruvuru, employees staged protests by selling coffee and tea.
On 13 September, in Nellore, Banks and Central government offices remained closed for the third consecutive day at the instance of Samaikya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika activists (Employees JAC). Activists obstructed the movement of buses carrying ISRO employees by squatting on the road and raising slogans.Advocates took a rally on motorcycles. In Kurnool, a group of Shirdi Sai devotees organised a satsang at the Telugu Talli statue praying for the state’s unity. In Kadapa, joint action committee activists staged protests at the collectorate. In Vijayawada, alarge number of women with a majority of all government employees and local college students came forward and expressed their protest towards the proposal of state bifurcation by taking part in the Mahila Garjana organised by district Samaikyandhra JAC.
Seventh Week
On 19 September, in Ananthapur, more than 100 teachers and leaders of JACTO donated blood demanding the Centre to withdraw its decision to divide the state. The JACs of APNGOs association, teachers and RTC employees picketed the Central government offices and banks at all parts of Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa district. The Samaikyandhra JAC activists staged a protest at BSNL office, district postal office and Banks and forced to close them as part of protest. In Sri Krishnadevarya University, the JAC activists picketed banks existed in the varsity and closed them. The Student Federation took out a rally holding with the books as part of protest at main roads of Anantapur. Zilla parishad employees staged a protest at their office standing on single leg. The government junior college lecturers expressed their protest on their knees at Pottisriramulu statue shouting slogans.On 20 September, in Rajahmundry, several supporters among non-gazetted officers, municipal employees, lawyers and others arrived at several Central government offices including EPFO, BSNL, LIC, ONGC, GAIL, CTRI and others and asked the authorities to close them down to express their solidarity to the ongoing stir for Samaikyandhra and accordingly they did so. Municipal employees and teachers formed a human chain and later, they submitted a representation to the statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar wishing that the Congress leadership should be given wisdom on the issue. At Bhimavaram, municipal employees carried out a novel protest with bulbs saying that in case the state gets divided, it becomes dark. ZP High School students staged novel protest by sitting in the shape of 108. At Eluru, the supporters visited several Central government offices and banks and asked the authorities to close them. Teachers staged novel protest by taking up several sit-ups. Members of Nagara Nayee Brahmana Sangham took part in the relay hunger strike being taken up under the aegis of Samaikya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika. Medical practitioners associated with IMA took out a demonstration and staged dharna. Several Nayee Brahmins took out a rally playing the musical instruments from mu-nicipal corporation office and formed a human chain. In Kurnool, around 40,000 engineering and pharmacy students gathered for a ‘Maha Garjana’ to support the Samaikyandhra agitation. It was organised by private engineering and pharmacy colleges JAC to express the anguish of students doing professional courses as they depend on Hyderabad for employment. In Nellore, thousands of women participated in Mahila Garjana rally. Correspondents of various private schools participated in the relay hunger strike. Teachers of Gurukul schools, government schools, private schools and staff of marketing department also staged demonstrations. RTC workers took out a procession in a hired bus of RTC.
On 21 September, in Nellore, nearly 300 tractors, 300 auto rickshaws, 100 bikes, about 50 buses and earth moving vehicles besides some vans and trucks took part in the rally. Several university and school students participated in rallies and formed a human chain. Meanwhile, representatives of various private schools participated in the relay hunger strike being organised under the auspices of private educational institutes JAC. Irrigation employees staged a reverse walk demonstration. In Atmakuru, an unprecedented turnout marked the ‘Atmakur Arupu’ rally held under the auspices of Employees JAC at Atmakur. The attendance crossed all the estimates of the organisers. Students of different schools, colleges and engineering colleges marched towards the venue in large numbers raising slogans against the division of the state. Similarly, farmers and women from nearby villages also bee-lined to Atmakur to take part in the programme.In Chittoor, about 20,000 people, mostly students, thronged the ‘praja garjana’ programme at Jyothirao Phule statue junction and reiterated the demand for unified State, under the banner of Samaikhya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika. In Tirupati, protestors performed rituals and ceremonies to mark the completion of 50 days of agitations. Members of the JAC of Private Schools’ Association took out a rally by deploying 40 buses disrupting traffic at several points in the city. Fishermen’s Association also took out a rally wherein the members protested by spreading the fishing nets on the road at Raj Vihar centre. The employees of APSRTC took out a rally denouncing the role of TRS leaders and Sonia Gandhi in bifurcation of the State.
Eighth Week
On 23 September, in Nandyal, Laksha Gala Garjana (roar of one lakh voices) protest saw the participation of a large number of students of various schools and colleges from surrounding mandals. Rallies by thousands of activists were held in Allagadda & Vempalle. Over 2,500 RTC bus services were confined to depots. Teachers took out protest wearing leaves to mark future consequences if the bifurcation happens. In Vishakapatnam, many activists took out rallies and formed human chains. The private school managements association decided to join the stir by closing all educational institutions in the district till the end of this month. The Andhra university staff and students took out a rally carrying a national flag. A few staff members staged a sit-in at the registrar’s office and even cooked food on the road.On 24 September, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema bandh called by the Save United AP Forum against the decision to bifurcate the State was total and peaceful. A 500-km-long human chain along NH-44 christened Samaikyandhra Ananta Maha Manava Haram, organised by the ADJAC in Anantapur district proved to be a stupendous success. It saw an unexpectedly large participation of the farming community across all mandals in the district. In Tirupati, Samaikyandhra supporters organised protests in their distinctive styles to express their disagreement on the decision to divide the State. Equipped with traditional musical instruments, members of Tirupati Cloth Merchants’ Association and tailors took out a rally and stitched clothes using their sewing machines in the middle of the road. They later took part in the relay hunger strike organised by Tirupati Samaikyandhra JAC (SAPS). Extending their support to the BC-JAC protest camp, members of Tirumala-Tirupati Valmiki Welfare Association organised a rally. Curfew-like situation prevailed in Chittoor town for about 12 hours since morning with bandh organisers, under the banner of Samaikhya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika, blocking all arterial junctions, not even allowing auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers. On the outskirts, frenzied mobs stopped auto-rickshaws and pelted stones at a couple of vehicles. All the educational institutions, business establishments and banks voluntarily downed their shutters, on which bandh notice pamphlets were pasted. However, medical shops and hospitals were exempted from the bandh. At Kuppam constituency, sandwiched between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the bandh was total. People observed bandh voluntarily in Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Peddapuram, Amalapuram, Ravulapalem in East Godavari district. About 4,000 IIIT students took out a padayatra from Idupulapaya to Ganditheertham. In Vijayawada & Vishakapatnam, the response to bandh was good as educational institutions, banks, shops and other business establishments closed voluntarily as a mark of solidarity with supporters of unified State, who took bike rallies and staged hunger strikes. Bandh was also complete in Guntur & Narasaraopet.
On 25 September, as many as 8,000 sarpanches and ward members of about 800 gram panchayats in Kadapa district, setting aside their political affiliations, unanimous signed resolutions against bifurcation of the State.
On 26 September, supporters expressed their ire against Digvijaya Singh that their party would not renege on its opinion on Telangana unlike other regional parties and burnt his effigies and even carried out a funeral procession to his effigy at several places in Godavari districts. At Eluru, several supporters including the NGOs and employees wearing white caps on their heads and flowers in their ears staged demonstration.
On 26 September, Digvijaya Singh reiterated that Telangana note will be ready by the 1st week of October and that his party unlike others cannot go back on the decision. He further said that his party will consider the recommendations of the A K Antony committee. He pointed out that while private establishments continue to run, government offices are being closed. He appealed to the APNGOs to call off their strike.
On 27 September, about 500 employees from the state secretariat staged a day-long dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. MPs and leaders of the state from Congress, TDP, YSRCP, Samajwadi party expressed their solidarity to the employees' demand. In Vishakapatnam, supporters forced commercial banks, Central government offices and organisations to close.
Ninth Week
On 29 September, a seven-hour-long meeting to ‘Save Andhra Pradesh,’ held in Kurnool saw an attendance of around 200,000 people. More than 2,000 supporters from Palamur, Alampur and Gadwal of Mahbubnagar district in Telangana also participated in the meeting. In Nellore district, activists continued their relay fasts, rallies and other forms of agitations. The Rajahmundry corporation employees, along with the JAC members of NGOs, teachers, APSRTC employees and others organised a boat rally in river Godavari.Reactions by Political Parties
On 1 August, One minister and 18 legislators from the Congress Party in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions resigned over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.On 5 August, MPs belonging to both Congress and TDP created uproar in both Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha demanding a clear statement from the government to keep the state united.
On 10 August, president of the YSR Congress Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother, YSR Congress Legislature Party leader Y.S. Vijayalakshmi resigned from their memberships of the Lok Sabha and Assembly respectively to protest the Congress’ unilateral decision to go ahead with the creation of Telangana state without addressing the concerns of other regions of the state.
On 12 August, two state ministers resigned from their posts protesting the proposed bifurcation of the state.
On 13 August, Members of the Congress party, including Cabinet Ministers, MPs & MLAs held a protest and raised slogans in the Parliament premises demanding a united Andhra Pradesh. TDP MP Naramalli Sivaprasad created uproar in the Lok Sabha by dressing up as Lord Krishna and trooping into the well of the House to protest.
On 15 August, a delegation of eight union ministers met the high-level panel headed by Defence Minister A. K. Antony, which was appointed to look into the concerns of people from Andhra & Rayalaseema regions after the proposed division. The ministers told the panel about the problems like sharing of water and power resources, security to employees and other issues that would arise once the State was divided.They also demanded the appointment of a 2nd States Reorganisation Commission to look into the creation of a Telangana state.
On 16 August, wife of state minister Thota narasimham was forcibly shifted to a hospital after 6 days of indefinite fast in Kakinada.
On 19 August, YSR Congress Party honorary president Y.S. Vijayalakshmi began her indefinite fast against the proposed division.
On 20 August, two MLAs from Nellore district started an indefinite hunger strike against the division proposal. In Kadapa, two YSRCP leaders ended their fast after 9 days when they were forcibly shifted to a hospital.
On 21 August, CM Kiran Kumar Reddy met the Anthony committee and argued that bifurcation would harm the interests of the two States and also pointed out that the Congress party will face problems electorally. Over a dozen state ministers also met the committee and listed a number of issues such as river water sharing, employment, economic development, agriculture, HRD that needed to be addressed before the Centre goes ahead with the division.
On 22 August, TDP MP in Rajya Sabha Nandamuri Harikrishna submitted his resignation which was accepted on the same day. In Guntur & Nellore, TDP MLAs who were on an indefinite fast were forcibly shifted to hospitals. Another MLA launched a padayatra from Chittoor to Tirumala. In Lok Sabha, the government brought a suspend motion on 11 MPs belonging to TDP & Congress for protesting the Telangana decision. However, members of opposition including Trinamool Congress and BJP protested the motion.
On 23 August, 8 Congress and 4 MPs were suspended for continuously stalling the Lok Sabha proceedings.
On 2 October, several BJP leaders from Andhra & Rayalaseema regions met their party's central leadership including L K Advani, Rajnath Singh and sought their intervention to impress upon the Centre to address concerns of the people due to the state division. The BJP later issued a statement that their party was committed for the state division but will ensure that everyone's concerns will be addressed an no injustice will be done to any region.
Support in Telangana
AIMIM party which represents majority of assembly segments in Hyderabad region has consistently reiterated their commitment towards a unified state. Also, Sangareddy MLA Jagga Reddy has come in support of keeping the state united. Apart from this though, there is no visible active political support for this movement from any political parties in the Telangana region. Samaikya Andhra JAC could not organize any public event in Telangana region due to threats & objections by proponents of separate State for Telangana. However from August 2013, there were several protests held in Hyderabad by employees and non-political outfits in support of a unified state.In 2010, Chiranjeevi and Jagan Mohan Reddy who had openly supported this movement had faced trouble attending some public events in Telangana region, in the form of attacks by pro-telangana activits.[201][202] Later, they had addressed several rallies in the region.
In light of the ongoing violent agitations and political gridlock, some politicians have suggested to include Nalgonda district in to Seemandhra instead of Kurnool district. This could resolve the issue of hyderabad as a permanent common capital. This proposal means Hyderabad can be a border city of telangana and seemandhra. Many Telangana leaders have opposed this plan.
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