Hyderabad:
It started out as a diktat from the students at Hyderabad's Osmania University: no New Year's parties at hotels or resorts.
But after the police threatened action against any students who disrupt celebrations, the students have toned down their warning. "`We will boycott New Year celebrations in Telangana region" - the official stand of the Joint Action Committee of Osmania University.
For over a month, Osmania has turned into a war zone, witnessing some of the most violent protests that Andhra Pradesh has ever seen. Students here are overwhelmingly in favour of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. They've tied up officially with K Chandrasekhar Rao and other pro-Telangana leaders to form a Joint Action Committee. The group has threatened that unless the Centre indicates a schedule for the formation of a new state, an indefinite bandh will begin in Telangana.
Earlier this month, the Centre, in a surprise midnight announcement, sanctioned the formation of a new state. However, MLAs from Andhra Pradesh's non-Telangana regions resigned en masse, forcing many political parties to withdraw the support they had originally offered to the chief minister, K Rosaiah, over the state issue. As Andhra Pradesh plunged into a political crisis, the Centre announced last week that it will rely on lengthy negotiations to find a political consensus before it goes ahead. Telangana leaders see this as the Centre going back on its word.
Police officers tell NDTV that on New Year's Eve, there will be heavy security at hotels.