Telangana split: 13 Seemandhra districts paralysed, curfew relaxed in Vizianagaram
Andhra Pradesh Secretariat employees from Seemandhra staging a protest against the bifurcation of state.
For the first time in its history, Vijayawada-based 1760 MW Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station has completely shut down, affecting public life in many districts. Most industrial establishments and shops are running on backup power. Drinking water supply, train services, petrol availability and hospital services are all badly hit. While Tirupati and Vijayawada airports are running on backup power, state capital Hyderabad is also witnessing blackouts.
Power crisis cripples districts
In view of the power crisis, several passenger and express trains from Hyderabad and en route have been cancelled while 150 diesel locomotives are being used to run passenger and express trains. Goods trains are stranded at various stations.
Industrial units in Visakhapatnam and surrounding areas were badly hit on Monday. North coastal districts of Srikakulam, Viziangaram and Visakhapatnam remained in dark on Monday. However, the shore-based Visakhapatnam steel plant and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Refinery were running with its captive power plant.
The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have written to the central electricity authority warning of possible tripping in their states due to feared collapse of the southern grid. The Union Cabinet is expected to meet on Tuesday to discuss the power situation in Andhra Pradesh.
CM talks tough, Naidu, Jagan on fast
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy announced that he would neither resign from his post nor allow the creation of a separate Telangana state.
"There is anger against division, against party and against us too. Progress is possible in a united state," Reddy asserted, giving a piece of his mind.
Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu began a hunger strike against the Andhra Pradesh bifurcation in New Delhi on Monday. He began his fast after a visit to Rajghat. Naidu criticised the Congress for deciding to bifurcate the state and accused it of playing politics on the sensitive issue. "We have to do justice for both areas (Telangana and Seemandhra), discuss with people of both areas, resolve the problem amicably. If there is a new government, we will resolve it within six months," he claimed.
YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy's indefinite hunger strike against the creation of a separate Telangana state entered the fourth day on Tuesday. On Saturday, when Reddy began his fast, he had blamed UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the 'crisis' in the state and accused her of exploiting sentiments of people to pave way for Rahul Gandhi to become the Prime Minister. He had also appealed to the Congress president to reconsider the Cabinet's decision.
No going back on decision: Centre
On Monday, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde expressed concern over Seemandhra protests and appealed to people to create environment for healthy dialogue. Shinde said he was confident of achieving amicable solution that safeguards people of all regions in Andhra Pradesh.
However, Shinde's deputy, MoS RPN Singh, said there was no scope to "reconsider" the proposed creation of Telangana and alleged that violent protests on the issue were being backed by parties which had earlier supported the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. "The government is not going to reconsider the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana. The ongoing protests in the name of a united Andhra are being led by political parties which had in the past supported the idea of a new state. This is very unfortunate," Singh said.
Tension after violence in Vizag
Curfew in Vizianagaram town, near Vishakhaptnam, was eased for an hour on Tuesday morning after normalcy began to return in the violence-hit area. A strict vigil was maintained during the relaxation period. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Vizag) P Umapathi said that the curfew was relaxed between 7 am and 8 am to facilitate people to purchase essential commodities.
Vizianagaram town has been roiling since the Union Cabinet's October 3 decision to carve out a separate state of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh. Following large-scale violence by anti-Telangana movement protesters here, authorities had clamped curfew and issued shoot-at-sight orders. Properties owned by Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana in the town were particularly targeted by the rioters.
Other cities in the region like Vishakhapatnam, Vijaywada, Ongloe and Tirupati also remained tense.
Ministers urge PM to accept resignations
Meanwhile in New Delhi, four Union Ministers from Seemandhra met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to accept the resignations they tendered in the wake of the cabinet's decision to carve out a separate Telangana state. Prime Minister Singh after met Cabinet Minister Pallam Raju and Ministers of State K Chiranjeevi, D Purandeswari and K Suryaprakash Reddy and sought more time to decide on their resignations.
Purandeswari said they had told Singh that they would not attend offices from Tuesday to respect the feeling of the people of Seemandhra. "We stand by our demand for a united state. But this doesn't mean we are defying the party," she said.
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