KCR sinks, Andhra on brink of chaos

HYDERABAD: As TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao’s health teetered precariously and doctors on Tuesday warned of the worst, supporters of the separate Telangana cause — the fasting leader’s sole political platform — prepared to raise the campaign pitch, threatening to plunge Andhra Pradesh into chaos.

The medical team monitoring a sinking KCR at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences declared that the 55-year-old Telangana protagonist was critical. ‘‘ If he does not break his fast immediately, his life is at risk,’’ NIMS director Dr Prasada Rao said. Rao has reportedly not taken solids for over a week now.

On hearing the news, Rao’s family members and TRS workers requested him to end his fast, but he remained adamant, sending the state government into a tizzy over the possibility of widespread violence in the event of his death.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who returned from Russia late on Tuesday, is expected to call a meeting of Congress leaders on Wednesday to discuss the developments and make an appeal for peace.

So far, 17 Telangana supporters have committed suicide for the cause of a separate state as protests have engulfed several university campuses , including Hyderabad’s Osmania . Authorities ordered some hostels evacuated to cap protests as police clashed with demonstrators.

A panicky government on Tuesday rushed in nine battalions of Rapid Action Force from Delhi as reports surfaced of the Joint Action Committee of students amassing mobs and appealing to supporters to gather in Hyderabad. Inspector general of police A R Anuradha said police were keeping a close watch on campuses and setting up barriers to check vehicles from Wednesday.



MOVEMENT WITH A TROUBLED PAST

1948 |
Nizam’s rule ends, Hyderabad state formed

1953 |
Andhra carved out of Madras Principality after Potti Sreeramulu dies during hunger strike

1956 |
Telangana region of Hyd merged with AP. Rest of Nizam’s kingdom merged with K’taka and Maharashtra

1969 |
Over 350 Telangana protesters killed in police firing. Movement collapses after Marri Channa Reddy merges his Telangana Praja Samithi Party with Cong and Indira Gandhi makes him CM

2001 |
K Chandrasekhar Rao quits TDP, forms Telangana Rashtra Samithi

2004 |
YSR joins hands with Rao, promising separate Telangana, later backtracks. TRS MLAs resign en masse
TRS chief KC Rao in hospital on Tuesday.