Hyderabad:
The teargas shells that rained all morning at Osmania University in Hyderabad underscored the political morass that Andhra Pradesh is confronting. This college has once again become the staging ground for protests that demand a new state of Telangana be carved out immediately.
As the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh tries to keep the peace, it's own condition is somewhat fragile. A hundred MLAs from different parties have resigned, nearly half of them from the Congress. There are 295 seats in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
The Congress Core Committee - which includes the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi - met this evening and discussed the crisis. Earlier today, Home Minister P Chidambaram said the bulk resignations have not yet provoked a debate on whether President's Rule should be considered for Andhra Pradesh. He also said that his party is upset about the bulk resignations, and that the Congress hopes to "engage with" its politicians from Telangana region through more discussions in Delhi. (
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That's not the sort of surety that will prompt a truce from those campaigning aggressively now for a Telangana state.
Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana remained paralysed today as a massive bandh called by pro-Telangana activists entered its second day.
"We request all employees, doctors, lawyers, to join us, Osmania students are going to take this agitation forward. We request politicians also to join us. This is not the time for consultations as Mr Chidambaram said but for struggle," said a student leader named Krishank.
Schools and colleges are closed, entrance exams in Osmania University have been postponed and there are no Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses on the roads.
The Home Minister said he is hoping that the protests will not upset the delicate law and order.
The 48-hour bandh called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee will be followed by student rallies on Thursday and rail blockades are planned on Friday and Saturday.