Protests continued in Andhra Pradesh's Seemandhra against the central government's decision to carve out Telangana, while life was hit hard in many parts of the region as the talks to end electricity employees' strike failed Tuesday.
No respite was in sight as the employees decided to continue their three-day-old strike - which has affected hospitals, drinking and irrigation supply, trains and even internet and ATM services - after talks between Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and leaders of electricity employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) failed.
JAC leaders told reporters after the meeting that they would continue the strike till a clear assurance that the state will not be divided. They also rejected the chief minister's appeal to at least exempt the emergency services.
The central government, which ruled out imposing President's rule in the restive state, late Tuesday announced setting up of a seven-member group of ministers (GoM) to look into issues of the bifurcation.
In Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions), the state machinery continued to be paralysed while government-run schools remained shut as over six lakh government employees and teachers persisted with their strike, which began Aug 12.
Buses of state-owned road transport corporation also remained off the road for nearly two months now.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters in New Delhi that there was "no plan for now to impose President's rule".
Official sources said the GoM will look into distribution of resources like financial assets, water and electricity, and government staff, reorganisation of assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies and make recommendations on the boundaries of Telangana.
It comprises Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.
The terms of reference of the GoM are:
(i) Determine the boundaries of the new state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh with reference to the electoral constituencies, judicial and statutory bodies, and other administrative units,
(ii) Look into the legal and administrative measures required to ensure that both the state governments can function efficiently from Hyderabad as the common capital for 10 years,
(iii) Take into account the legal, financial and administrative measures that may be required for transition to a new capital of the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh,
(iv) Look into the special needs of the backward regions and districts of both the states and recommend measures,
(v) Look into the issues relating to law and order, safety and security of all residents and to ensure peace and harmony in all regions and districts consequent to the formation of the state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, and the long term internal security implications arising out of the creation of the two states and make suitable recommendations,
(vi) Look into the sharing of river water, irrigation resources and other natural resources (especially coal, water, oil and gas) between the two States and also inter-se with other States, including the declaration of Polavaram Irrigation Project as a National Project,
(vii) Look into the issues related to power generation, transmission and distribution between the two states,
(viii) Look into the issues arising on account of distribution of assets, public finance, public corporations and liabilities thereof between the two states,
(ix) Look into the issues relating to the distribution of the employees in the subordinate as well as All India Services between the two states,
(x) Look into the issues arising out of the Presidential Order issued under Article 371D of the Constitution consequent to the bifurcation, and
(xi) Examine any other matter that may arise on account of bifurcation of the state of Andhra Pradesh and make suitable recommendations.
Protests against the proposed division of the state showed no signs of abating, with government employees and students staging demonstrations outside central government offices and nationalised banks.
They also tried to blockade the residences of central and state ministers, members of parliament and state legislature.
Vizianagaram town in coastal Andhra remained under curfew for the fourth day. Curfew was relaxed for one hour in the morning, during which no untoward incident was reported.
About 30,000 employees of power utilities in Seemandhra's 13 districts stayed away from work, almost paralysing generation and transmission.
The strike has plunged several towns and hundreds of villages in darkness. Production in hundreds of industries also has come to a grinding halt.
The strike has brought to a standstill generation in all major power plants in Seemandhra. The strike has also impacted Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana with authorities imposing power cuts to tide over the shortage.
The state has a demand of 11,000 MW, but only 7,200 MW is being supplied. According to officials of Andhra Pradesh Generation Corporation (AP Genco), generation of 3,870 MW has come to a halt.
In the national capital, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu continued his hunger strike for the second day, demanding talks with the leaders of all regions of the state to find an amicable solution to the current turmoil.
Opposing the state's division, YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy also persisted with his hunger strike in Hyderabad for the fourth day.
In Delhi, Congress general secretary in charge of party affairs in the state, Digvijaya Singh released to media letters written by both thed TDP and YSR Congress, supporting the formation of Telangana state.
He reiterated that the decision was taken after consultation with all parties and ruled out going back on it. He appealed to Seemandhra employees to call off their strike and assured that the concerns of Seemandhra people would be addressed.