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Telangana: Andhra Pradesh To Be Divided - What About Hyderabad?

by Sudha Krishna | December 10, 2009 at 09:15 am

2871 views | 12 Recommendations | 7 comments

Andhra Pradesh a state in southern India is going to be partitioned into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh - sparking fears that a divided Andhra Pradesh and a new Telangana will provide a boost to similar secessionist movements across India.

The federal government bowed to demands for the creation of Telananga after very recent relentless protests and campaigns, and after years of ongoing pro-Telangana protests dating back 50 years.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram's surprise announcement came after the movement for Telangana" gathered steam in the wake of an 11-day hunger strike by the head of a regional party, K. Chandrasekhara Rao, and violent protests by university students and others.

Telangana is essentially a geographic region in the state of Andhra Pradesh - the interior and western parts of the state. It means "land of the Telegus" (the official language of Andhra Pradesh).

Now, that the reality of Telangana is imminent in Andhra Prahesh the battle shifts to the rights to the coveted capital of Hyderabad.

Hyderabad known as the "city of perals" is a city of about 5 million people and a center for the lucrative hi-tech sector (where Microsoft and Google have centers), universities, film studios, and of course the center for the existing leglislature, ministries and administrative offices.

Both sides are fierce in laying claim to Hyderabad and the prospect of violence erupting is very real.

... the decision to divide Andhra Pradesh has sparked a political crisis within the state, prompting about 61 members of the legislative assembly, including some from the ruling Congress Party, to resign in protest at the proposed division.

In addition, the partition of Andhra Pradesh could send signals and give momentum to secessionist movements in other parts of India.

India after its partition and independence from Britain in 1947 was divided along linguistic lines, with most of the 28 states being created from a state re-organization commission. The creation of the states of India were understandably complicated and fragile. The popularity of secessionist movements ebbed and flowed.

The creation of Telangana will likely take a year.

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Dr. Santosh (not verified)

at 09:49 on December 10th, 2009

The consequence of this annoucement can be seen in remaining parts of rayalaseema and coastal andhra. One can clearly notice that when upto 10,000 students held a rally in chittoor district, how come no strong police force has been deployed to control them in a manner similar to that in Osmania University at Hyderabad.Is it that the Home Minister do not want to control them and safeguard public property there in other regions or that the mastermind behind the cabinet wants to show the reaction of the public to the center by mobilizing them.

Uwe Paschen

at 17:35 on December 10th, 2009

Thank you for the post.

I wonder how this will end? I hope the violence will stop. do have my doubts though.

The coming weeks will be decisive and potentially volatile.

israeli.agent

at 03:52 on December 11th, 2009

It would be wonderful to see the country's map looking like a mosaic floor.

Assured that blood red will be one of the shades.

.Agent.

azzayindia

at 11:06 on December 11th, 2009

If europe can live along with so many small countries why cant India with small states. i am averse to the idea if people demanding are put i a bracket of secessionist.Also the people who are opposing these small states formation have were struggling for separate state during independence. I is shame that Bengalis after receiving Bengal on language platform are refusing Gorkhas their land on similar grounds.India can do with as many as 50 states which is needed to as the population has increased many fold and separate states is the answer to increasing employment and growth.

Sudha Krishna

at 13:29 on December 11th, 2009

That is an interesting point but the difference being India is a country that perhaps should be a continent while Europe is Continent that is in some ways become more like a unified country

Riyaaz Ahmed (not verified)

at 16:06 on December 12th, 2009

I agree with azzayindia. It has been proven in India that smaller states are much more efficient and cater to local needs at a better rate compared to larger states. If United States with a population that is trice as small as India's has 50 states, why are people so stuck to having large inefficient states in India? India as a nation will only improve if it evolves and people need to let go of status quo. Change is not always as bad as people think especially if it is for the betterment of poor and the neglected.

Adithya reddy (not verified)

at 06:36 on January 10th, 2010

we want telangana, we don't want samikyaandra. because we r lose so many things and jobs....etc in this congress came after. Adithya Reddy from U.A.E జైతెలంగాణా! జై జైతెలంగాణా!!!