Students hit streets for ‘united Andhra’

HYDERABAD: The protests against a separate Telangana state spread to universities on Friday with students in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati taking to the streets.

Students from SV University in Tirupati and Andhra University in Visakhapatnam said their goal was a ‘‘ united Andhra Pradesh’’ , a demand voiced in Andhra and Rayalaseema belts. Most of the ‘united Andhra Pradesh’ supporters in Hyderabad are settlers from the state’s coastal region.

‘‘ It was the involvement of students (like Osmania University in Hyderabad) which helped the separate state deal. Students from other regions should protest to undo the wrong move,’’ said a student from the city. The government has announced closure of all colleges until December 18.

The protesters said they would organise hunger strikes in the coming days. ‘‘ Unlike the Telangana supporters, we have adopted a peaceful means of protest. Through a mass student movement we will thwart the move for a separate state,’’ said Manirish Rai, a student from SV University and National Students Union of India activist.