Andhra drops cases against Telangana protestors

Within 48 hours of 11 Congress MPs launching a hunger strike, the Andhra Pradesh government decided on Tuesday to withdraw all cases slapped on students and others agitating for and against a separate Telangana state.

There were about 1,600 cases pending against protestors across the state. Most protestors were booked after December 9, 2009, when the Centre agreed to carve out Telangana.

The fasting MPs were seeking withdrawal of all cases at once, but the government dropped 135 cases on Monday and 565 on Tuesday.

“The state government has decided to withdraw all cases pending against protestors, in principle. The agitating MPs have agreed to call off fast,” Andhra home minister Sabita Reddy said. However, she did not explain what the government meant by “in principle”.

Expressing satisfaction at the government decision, the MPs led by Rajya Sabha member K Keshava Rao ended fast on Tuesday evening. “We are happy that the government has come out with a clear announcement on the issue,” Rao said.

Earlier in the day, Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhara Rao visited the protesting MPs and expressed solidarity. “This is not the time to be particular about political affiliations. All of us are keen on ensuring that the students fighting for Telangana are free of cases. The Congress MPs are doing a great job,” he said.

Student unions thanked the fasting MPs but were not completely satisfied with what Congress leaders are doing. “The state government is putting in place thousands of central forces in Telangana, particularly at universities. Congress leaders should continue to fast and press for withdrawal of these forces,” Anjaneya Goud, president of Telangana Students Joint Action Committee, said.

Political analysts termed the withdrawal pre-planned. “It is a fact that Congress leaders are not in a position to face the people of Telangana. They have been busy in power politics ever since K Rosaiah stepped down as chief minister and YS Jaganmohan Reddy quit his parliament membership. The indefinite fast and the following government decision to withdraw cases look preset,” a political science professor at Osmania University said.