Anti-Telangana protests rage across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema

HYDERABAD: Protests continued across coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions on the ninth day against the Congress' announcement favouring bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create a separate Telangana state.

Though several "pro-united" Andhra Pradesh outfits announced a break to the protests due to Ramzan today, rallies, sit-ins, human chains and fasts continued at several places in both the regions.

Leaders protesting against the Congress decision continued today, with former minister and MLA Dharmana Prasada Rao offering to quit his post.

Though protests across both regions against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh have been by and large peaceful, statues of national leaders have been desecrated several times.

The police has warned that desecration of statues would be dealt with sternly.