KCR improves, Hyderabad simmers over Telangana

After hours of being in critical condition on the 11th day of his fast, TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao is now better and has agreed to take IV fluids this afternoon. Hyderabad, however, continues to simmer over the Telangana issue as the Congresscentral leadership gets into a huddle to resolve the Andhra Pradesh crisis. In Delhi, the Congress core committee met to discuss the issue, and asked Rao to end his fast. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah too is in the Capital and is expected to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi shortly. Twenty-five Congress MLAs from Telangana have written to Sonia Gandhi asking for an urgent solution to the crisis. While Telangana wants statehood, the two other regions of Andhra - coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema - are opposed to any bifurcation. The ruling Congress in Andhra is also divided over the issue. K Chandrasekhar Rao, the man whose hunger strike began this round of agitation for Telangana, is now better after agreeing to take IV fluids from this afternoon. He was in critical condition in the morning with protein malnutrition and extreme weight loss. A day before a mega-protest planned by the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS), meanwhile, Telangana is on edge. All groups that support the Telangana movement have called for a Chalo, Assembly Bandh on Thursday. Thousands of people plan to surround the Assembly with a rally. Hyderabad has turned into a virtual fortress, with more than 12,000 security personnel on guard, including 4 battalions of the Rapid Action Force. About 1,900 paramilitary personnel have been airlifted to the state. The movement has already spread beyond political activists. Students have now taken up leadership of the agitation for a separate state of Telangana supported by teachers. And Medak district DSP D Nalini became the first police officer to resign in support of a separate Telangana state. She quit protesting against the lathi-charge on students supporting the cause. Today, there were clashes with the police when students were prevented from holding a rally at Osmania University, which is at the heart of the student agitation. At least 100 students and teachers have been arrested for violating Section 144, which has been imposed in all the 10 districts of the Telangana region. Earlier in the day, the AP High Court struck down a government order closing all colleges in Telangana till December 18. But a division Bench later stopped the single - judge verdict. The latest the verdict has clarified that hostels must be opened so students can return, but colleges can remain closed. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned for the day without transacting any business for the second consecutive day today after the TRS stalled the proceedings demanding a resolution in favour of a separate state of Telangana. Speaker Reddy adjourned the House twice earlier as the TRS members stalled the proceedings by entering the well of the House and raising slogans in support of their demand. The Chief Minister urged the TRS members to let the House take up the business as per agenda as the government has already agreed for a debate on the Telangana issue. He said the Central government should be given time to take a decision on the issue and noted that passing a resolution was not easy.