Protests in Seemandhra against the creation of Telangana
The coastal region of Andhra Pradesh is battling a severe power crisis that has emerged as the biggest fallout of protests against a new Telangana state. The indefinite protests by over 30,000 power sector employees from the Seemandhra region has hit hospitals and trains, leaving lakhs of passengers stranded.
Here are the 10 latest developments in the story:
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh denied any go-slow on the creation of Telangana due to the protests. "There is no question of going back on Telangana, the decision was taken after due consideration," he told NDTV.
The group of ministers assigned to handle the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will meet on Friday in Delhi.
Three rounds of talks between the state government and electricity workers striking against Telangana have failed. (Live updates)
Long power cuts had virtually paralysed hospitals in the Seemandhra region, many of who were using generators. At the government-run King George hospital, wards where babies are being treated were in emergency mode all of yesterday, as incubators could not work.
Trains are running late and many have been cancelled because the power cuts are especially bad in Vijayawada, which is the second-largest rail junction in the country. Cell phone services are down in large parts of the state; internet and ATM services have also been affected.
A worried Centre is considering imposing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to force employees to return to work.
Because Andhra Pradesh's contribution to the Southern Grid has dropped severely, the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala have written to the Centre warning of the possibility black out for all southern states. (Read)
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has ruled out the option of central rule in the state lacerated by massive, violent protests over the union government's decision to bifurcate it.
Two politicians are on fast against Telangana. In Hyderabad, YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy is on his fifth day of fast and may be shifted to hospital amid concerns over his failing health. Politician N Chandrababu Naidu has been asked to shift out of Andhra Pradesh Bhawan in Delhi, where he has been fasting since Monday. But the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief has refused to budge.
The ruling Congress has accused both Jagan Mohan Reddy and Mr Naidu of changing their stand on Telangana with an eye on polls due by May. The Congress yesterday circulated a letter by the TDP chief to the Centre in 2008, saying his party supported the creation of Telangana. (Read)
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