Seemandhra on the boil, Kiran Kumar Reddy fights for united Andhra

Hyderabad, Oct 7: As the Seemandhra region on Monday witnessed angry protests against the central government's decision to bifurcate the state, curfew remained imposed in Vizianagaram town and large areas plunged into darkness with electricity employees on strike in protests.

Here is the brief timeline of the events as they unfolded in the entire day in the Andhra Pradesh and in the national capital:

9.44 pm: East Coast Railways today halted operations of four express trains and all local/passenger trains originating and terminating at Visakhapatnam in the wake of agitation in Andhra Pradesh, official sources said.

9.00 pm: Congress MPs from Telangana - Ponnam Prabhakar and Sircilla Rajaiah - have alleged that Andhra PRadesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy are instigating violence in Seemandhra region by changing their stand on Telangana.

8.30 pm: On the issue of possibility of imposition of President's rule in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress party spokesman Bhakt Charan Das said," Such time has not come, we will think about it when the situation arises."

8.15 pm: There is no scope to "reconsider" the proposed creation of Telangana and violent protests on the issue were being backed by parties which had earlier supported the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister R P N Singh said.

7.45 pm: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde appeals to the people of Andhra Pradesh to create an environment conducive to dialogue.

7.30pm: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde briefs Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the prevailing situation in Andhra Pradesh and steps being taken to maintain peace there.

Shinde has reportedly said that he is confident of achieving amicable solution that safeguards people of all regions in Andhra Pradesh.

Shinde is said to have conveyed to the Prime Minister that adequate forces have been deployed in Seemandhra region to maintain law and order and steps being taken to bring back normalcy, official sources said.

"I tried to convince Sonia and Rahul against Andhra bifurcation", says Reddy.

7.00pm: "I tried to convince Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi against Andhra bifurcation", says chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy while talking to a news channel.

6.45 pm: JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav joins Chandrababu Naidu on the dais at Andhra Bhavan (Delhi).

6.20 pm: Seemandhra MP Daggubati Purandeswari after the meeting at 7, RCR, told scribes that the ministers from Andhra Pradesh informed Prime Minister about the situtation in the state and requested him to accept their resignation, reiterating that they will not be able continue as ministers of his cabinet.

5.40 pm: Senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman blames Congress for the Telangana mess, and says, "Congress is unable to do anything smoothly and has led Andhra to such a chaos."

5.20 pm: Chandrababu Naidu denied permission to fast at Delhi's Andhra Bhavan by Resident Commissioner of the facility, reports stated.

4.55 pm: Seemandhra ministers called upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon at 7, RCR to discuss the division of Andhra Pradesh.

Some reports said that the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu was today denied permission to fast at capital's Andhra Bhavan by the Resident Commissioner of the facility.

All parties supported Telangana, says Congress

"During the all-party meeting on Telangana, every party except the CPI-M supported the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh," said Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh, who is in charge of the party's affairs in the state.

His remark came shortly after TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu began a hunger strike here demanding that Andhra Pradesh should not be broken up.

Digvijaya Singh said he has a letter written by Naidu in support of Telangana.

Taking note of widespread violence and protests against the state's bifurcation, Digvijaya Singh sought to assure the people of Seemandhra (as the other two regions of Rayalseema and costal Andhra are collectively known), that issues like security, education and employment in Hyderabad would be taken care of.

Some of the tweets of Digvijay Singh on Telangana:

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)