Jagan Reddy begins indefinite fast against AP bifurcation

YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has begun his indefinite fast against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad. The crowd gathered at the fast venue seemed to be less than what the YSR Congress had expected.

Also Read: Telangana bifurcation: Revolt erupts from within & outside

Jagan had on Friday said he would strongly protest against the "unjust" decision and appealed to other parties and leaders to support him and take part in his protest against the Centre's decision.

"I request all parties to join me, I request Chandrababu Naidu as well (to join me)," he said. TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu would also begin fast-unto-death in Delhi from October 7.

While the Seemandhra region is under a 72-hour bandh, the political fallout of the Cabinet clearing Telangana has also been fierce with the resignations of six Union Ministers. Textiles Minister KK Samba Siva Rao and Minister of State for Railways Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy put down their papers on Friday evening. Earlier in the day, Human Resources Development Minister Pallam Raju resigned from the Cabinet. Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi was the first minister to resign on Thursday, hours after the decision on Telangana was taken.

Minister of State for Commerce D Purandeswari and MoS for IT and Communications Killi Kruparani have also submitted their resignations, according to their aides.

Meanwhile, protests too are growing in the state. United Andhra supporters attacked Andhra State Congress chief Botsa Satyanaraya's property on Friday in the Vizianagram district of Andhra Pradesh. Agitators demanded that the minister resigns and participates in the protests.

However, Congress leader from Telangana Jaipal Reddy has defended the Centre's move saying that sometimes tough decisions need to be taken for the greater good. This even as Congress MPs, who had already resigned from the Lok Sabha on Telangana issue, have now threatened to quit the party.

They include R Sambasiva Rao, Ananta Venkatarami Reddy, Sabbam Hari, Vundavali Arun Kumar and K Bapi Raju (rpt) K Bapi Raju. At a press conference in Delhi, Sambasiva Rao accused the Congress of doing injustice to Telugus and even praised BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. But the government is committed to carve out the new state of Telangana.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde described the protests in Seemandhra region against bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh as quite natural, saying wherever a new state is carved out, such feelings are bound to come. "We will take them into confidence. We will try our level best. After all, wherever there is bifurcation of any state, such feelings are there. It is natural. No one can avoid these. But we have to console them. We will try to console them," he said.

The governmen has announced a Group of Ministers which will work out the modalities on Telangana. The GoM includes Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Shinde. The 13 districts in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of the state, already witnessing protests for over two months, descended into chaos on Friday morning with supporters of united Andhra Pradesh taking to streets against the Centre's move.

The protesters blocked highways and railway tracks and forced closure of shops, business establishments as well as educational institutions. The shutdown called by Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers Association and other pro-united Andhra outfits to protest the Centre's decision saw sporadic incidents of violence, including attacks on Congress party offices, as normal life was thrown out of gear.