The issue of Telangana has split the ruling Congress down the middle in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with one section fiercely opposed to it while another continued to back the party's high command on the formation of the new state. According to an Indian Express report, the party expects over 45 MLAs, including ministers and district level leaders, to make a beeline for rival parties including the TDP and YSR Congress, to ensure that their electoral prospects aren't hit by anti-Telangana sentiment.
At a time when we were used to hearing of “T” issue – there is also growing demand for united State which had its echo in the public meeting addressed by President Pranab Mukherjee with Minister S. Sailajanath, a strong votary of Samaikhyandhra, raising the issue amid large gathering of people. Dr. Sailajanath said the President was the “only person” capable of ensuring that established procedures were followed in the bifurcation process. The meeting was organised to conclude the birth centenary celebrations of former president Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. Anantapur MP Ananta Venkatarami Reddy referred to the ongoing crisis and said Mr. Pranab’s visit at this juncture raised hopes for an amicable solution. The President in his speech hailed Sanjeeva Reddy as modern day architect of the State and set high standards in public life. Sanjeeva Reddy displayed high standards by resigning as Chief Minister over an adverse remark made by the Supreme Court against his Government for not filing an affidavit. Earlier, police arrested 40 students of Sri Krishnadevaraya University affiliated to the SKU Joint Action Committee while they were on their way to venue of the public meeting. The students were released after the President left for Puttaparthy airport.If you are wondering of the “Samaikya” at the start - Samaikya Andhra Movement is a movement organized by seemaandhra people to keep the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh united, and to prevent the division of the state - separating the Telangana districts of the state into a separate Telangana state. The movement is supported by government employees, advocates in Andhra, Rayalaseema regions along with students from 14 universities, various occupational, caste & religious groups of Andhra & Rayalaseema regions. The movement took shape on 9 December 2009, when as a result of a 11-day fast by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced that the Indian government would start the process of forming a separate Telangana state pending the introduction and passage of a separation resolution in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. The announcement resulted in widespread protests across Andhra and Rayalseema regions. In the Indian Parliament, MPs belonging to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) & Congress parties along with Jagan Mohan Reddy protested by holding placards favoring a United Andhra Pradesh. In Feb 2010, the Govt announced a five-member committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B.N. Srikrishna which toured all the regions of state extensively and invited people from all sections of the society to give their opinion on the statehood. It received over one lakh petitions and representations from political parties, organisations, NGOs and individuals. The committee favoured the option to keep the State united and providing for creation of a statutorily empowered Telangana Regional Council. Samaikhyandhra proponents welcomed the report and supported the recommended option; while Telangana leaders rejected the recommendations of the Sri Krishna Committee Report. Hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts who thronged the Indira Gandhi ZoologicalPark at Vizag were thrilled to see the new arrivals — a pair of giraffe from Malaysiaand a rhino from Kanpur. A cheetah couple will be a Sankranti-eve gift to the zoo. Two pairs of black and white swans were among the new arrivals. The giraffes, after the end of their long quarantine period, were allowed for public viewing along with the rhino, which turned aggressive and ran amok jumping out of its enclosure immediately after its arrival here from the Kanpur zoo eight months ago.31st Dec 2013.