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The Centre on Friday clarified that it intends to go ahead with the creation of a separate Telangana state in spite of wide-spread opposition, with Home Secretary G K Pillai stating that Hyderabad will be the capital of Telangana and the process to create a new state will commence soon.
Telagana Rashtriya Samiti chief K Chandrashekhar Rao has chosen to stay silent on the issue and watch the political developments unfold, as Members of the state Legislative Assembly across party lines have gone on a resignation spree to protest the Centre's decision, his close aides told rediff.com.
"A 60-year-old struggle has come to an end and the result has been fruitful. The mood in our party office is extremely upbeat and there will be celebrations. The sacrifice made by so many people over the past 60 years has not gone to waste," TRS state secretary Subhash Reddy told rediff.com.
Dr K Jayashankar, former vice-chancellor of Kakatiya University, has been involved with the movement for decades. He says, "We are not concerned about the resignations (by MLAs and Members of Parliament), but with the fact that the voice of several million people has been heard. This is an emotional issue and the government has understood that. We hope that the process is completed quickly".
He also expressed his happiness over the government's decision to make Hyderabad the capital of Telangana, and not a union territory, as suggested by some experts.
Rama Rao, leader of the Joint Action Committee which led the students' agitation over the issue at the Osmania University, believes that the Centre's decision proves that it has not buckled under the pressure of the MLAs' resignations.
Rao admitted that with the en masse resignation of state MLAs, he was worried that the Centre might backtrack on the issue.
"But they have kept their word and the blessings of the people of Telangana will always be with them. This is the happiest day for the people of Telangana. Celebrations will be held at the Osmania University and at all village and district centres of Telangana," he said.
High Court disrupted
Clashes broke out between lawyers of the Telangana region and lawyers from coastal Andhra and Rayalseema at the Hyderabad high court on Friday. A lawyers forum comprising pro-Telangana lawyers was celebrating the Centre's announcement at the high court premises when lawyers from non-Telangana regions objected, resulting in the clashes, which disrupted proceedings at the high court.