Telangana: Jagan to organise protest rally in Delhi today

Hyderabad, Feb 17: As the UPA government gears up for the passage of Telangana Bill in Parliament this week, the two sides of the regional divide in Andhra Pradesh have stepped up efforts in support of their respective agendas.

Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress is organising a protest in Delhi on Monday against the division of Andhra Pradesh. The party leaders and supporters have left for the national capital in two trains from different parts of the state.

'The dharna would be a battle between Delhi's arrogance and Telugu self-pride'

"The dharna would be a battle between Delhi's arrogance and Telugu self-pride and the latter will be the winner eventually," YSRC spokesperson Vasireddy Padma had said recently.

Meanwhile, the forum for protection of integrated Andhra Pradesh, led by the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association, would also be organising a protest this week in Delhi. The forum plans to hold a public meeting at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital against the state's division.

The APNGOs and other protagonists of integrated Andhra Pradesh have been camping in Delhi to campaign against the proposed division.

Meanwhile, supporters of a separate state have been making efforts for the passage of the Telangana Bill. Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao, his party legislators and leaders of other pro-Telangana parties and outfits have also been camping in Delhi to drum up support for the controversial legislation.

The Andhra Pradesh Bhawan in Delhi has been the venue for many a protest and clashes over the contentious issue during the last couple of weeks.

In a new low in India's parliamentary history, pepper spray was used in the Lok Sabha on February 13 resulting in hospitalisation of three MPs following a ruckus over introduction of the Telangana Bill after which 16 MPs from Andhra Pradesh were suspended.

PTI