Hyderabad:
The struggle for a separate state of Telangana has created a social divide between people from the Telangana and non-Telangana regions in Andhra Pradesh.
"I am a student at the Osmania University. I am not a terrorist, thief, robber or cheater," says an angry Swapna.
Swapna asks why she is being treated like an anti-national, just because she is protesting for a separate Telangana state? Police lathicharge and rubber bullet injuries have brought this postgraduate student of Telugu literature to hospital bed in Hyderabad. Her parents are terrified by the violence but they still believe a separate Telangana state can change life for generation-next.
"I am scared, but I am not asking her to stop. For Telangana's sake," says her mother Aruna.
What started as a political struggle for a separate Telangana state has now fired sentiments that have exploded out of the control of political parties.
Battles being fought on the political arena have created dangerous schisms in the social fabric. Already there are reports from several areas in the Telangana of migration of those who originally came in from the coastal areas.
The differences between people from Telangana and non-Telangana regions is becoming sharper by the day in the social consciousness.
And now, political parties have called for a boycott of products and services rendered by people from the coastal region which could make matters worse.
"Yes, absolutely. I would support that because ultimately whatever revenues they are generating from business in the region, they are using it against our aspirations," says Kavitha, KCR's daughter and president of Telangana Jagruthi.
Telangana votaries know that despite public sentiment, a separate state will not come about unless there is political will. That's why they want to do everything possible, including a social boycott, to force all elected MLAs from the region to resign.
"I am a student at the Osmania University. I am not a terrorist, thief, robber or cheater," says an angry Swapna.
Swapna asks why she is being treated like an anti-national, just because she is protesting for a separate Telangana state? Police lathicharge and rubber bullet injuries have brought this postgraduate student of Telugu literature to hospital bed in Hyderabad. Her parents are terrified by the violence but they still believe a separate Telangana state can change life for generation-next.
"I am scared, but I am not asking her to stop. For Telangana's sake," says her mother Aruna.
What started as a political struggle for a separate Telangana state has now fired sentiments that have exploded out of the control of political parties.
Battles being fought on the political arena have created dangerous schisms in the social fabric. Already there are reports from several areas in the Telangana of migration of those who originally came in from the coastal areas.
The differences between people from Telangana and non-Telangana regions is becoming sharper by the day in the social consciousness.
And now, political parties have called for a boycott of products and services rendered by people from the coastal region which could make matters worse.
"Yes, absolutely. I would support that because ultimately whatever revenues they are generating from business in the region, they are using it against our aspirations," says Kavitha, KCR's daughter and president of Telangana Jagruthi.
Telangana votaries know that despite public sentiment, a separate state will not come about unless there is political will. That's why they want to do everything possible, including a social boycott, to force all elected MLAs from the region to resign.
