Tempers ran high on Tuesday among the leaders of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, on the one hand, and Telangana on the other, over the issue of the State's bifurcation in the absence of any significant initiative from the Centre to break the deadlock.
At a Cabinet meeting convened by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, Ministers from Rayalaseema gave vent to their anger against the police lathi charge on students of Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU) in Anantapur.
Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy, who belongs to the district, reportedly found fault with the police for using excess force on the students protesting against arrest of their leaders who were on an indefinite fast.
Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy drew flak for not reacting adequately when 10 students were injured in clashes with the police. It was said that she promptly reined in the police in Hyderabad after they beat up students on the Osmania University campus. Mr. Rosaiah pleaded with his Ministers to sink their differences, observe restraint and await the Centre's word.
Within the Congress, more fissures developed, this time over Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's action in the Lok Sabha in supporting the TDP MPs who were opposing the State's division. Congress MPs and MLAs from Telangana, including his known supporters demanded disciplinary action against him by the high command.
In Vijayawada, prohibitory orders were imposed after Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal resumed the fast he began in Hyderabad on Monday before he was detained by police. Normal life in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema remained disrupted by bandhs, processions and road blockades on National Highway 5 (Kolkata-Chennai) and NH 9 (Hyderabad-Vijayawada).
Bandh in Cuddapah dt.
A total bandh was observed in Kadapa district and violence broke out in several places after the police removed Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, MLC and brother of the late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, after he staged an impromptu dharna near the Secretariat. People went on the rampage attacking State and Central Government offices in Pulivendula, Badvel and other places.
