The movement took shape on 9 December 2009, immediately after Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced that the Indian government would start the process of forming a separate Telangana state, pending the introduction and passage of a separation resolution in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. This resulted in protests across Andhra and Rayalseema regions.

In the Indian Parliament, MPs belonging to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) & Congress parties along with Jagan Mohan Reddy protested by holding placards favoring a United Andhra Pradesh state.[5] Lagadapati Rajagopal began an indefinite hunger strike demanding that the state be kept united. His strike received support from leaders and activists of all political parties and several elected representatives and leaders of the Congress went on a relay hunger strike extending their support to the MP.[6]

Students, workers, lawyers & various organizations in the regions launched agitations and peaceful demonstrations (dharnas) demanding that the state be kept united.[7] MLAs from these regions also submitted their resignations in protest seeking a reversal of the home minister's statement.[8] Two activists also allegedly committed suicide in protest against the division of the state.[9]

TDP leaders including MLAs Devineni Umamaheswar Rao and Paritala Sunitha, who were on a fast-unto-death as an act of protest in Vijayawada, Ananthapur, Guntur, Ongole etc. were arrested and forcibly shifted by the police to hospitals. However, these leaders continued their strike by refusing medical treatment. In Kadapa, late CM YSR's brother and Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy also fasted in support of united Andhra accompanied by his wife and followers who sat on a relay hunger strike. Another Congress leader who was fasting was also forcibly taken to hospital. A Praja Rajyam Party leader whose condition turned critical on the sixth day of his fast was rushed to hospital in Tadipatri.[10]

Four students of Andhra University became critical when their indefinite fast continued for 11 days. The TDP organised a half-naked procession in Vishakapatnam.[11] At Sri Venkateswara University, actor Mohan Babu sat on a day-long fast in the campus expressing solidarity with the students who were already on a hunger strike.[12]

On 23 December, keeping in view the reactions of people of other regions, the Government of India announced that no action on Telangana will be taken until a consensus is reached by all parties and groups in the state.[13]

Samaikyandhra movement proponents continue the movement demanding a clear stand from the central government that the state will remain united and will not be divided.

Arguments in favour of keeping the State United :-

Proponents of the Samaikyandhra Movement argue that a division of the state will be detrimental to the other regions as majority of the state's income comes from the capital Hyderabad and the implementation of welfare programmes would not be possible in other regions if the state is divided.[14] Students feel that in case of a division, educated youth of other backward regions like those in Rayalaseema will be denied employment opportunities.[15]

They also believe that the demand to carve out a separate state of Telangana is unreasonable, since far greater development took place in many towns and cities of Telangana region while other parts of the State were lagging behind in many aspects. Similarly they also feel that the myth that smaller states develop faster is wrong, since many states are currently facing a whole lot of problems because of lack of sufficient resources and exploitation.[16] They allege that a proper survey needs to be conducted to establish the backwardness of each region before taking a decision over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. They feel that all the areas of north Andhra region barring Visakhapatnam town would come under backward area.[17]

Division of the state, they argue, would also result in water problems in Andhra & Rayalaseema since Telangana was on the upstream of Krishna & Godavari rivers.[18] They also mention that small states would lead to problems of Naxalism.[19]

Eminent Journalist Kuldip Nayar also felt that small states do not necessarily bring about prosperity. He went on to say that the people in Punjab are now realising that bifurcation of the state was a big mistake.[20] India's social activist and anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare said that creation of Telangana state will not only encourage the demand for newer states, but also new districts which will weaken the country.[21]

Sri Krishna Committee Report :-
The five member committee headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna which submitted its report in two volumes to the Home Ministry of India on 30 December 2010 favoured the option to keep the State united and providing for creation of a statutorily empowered Telangana Regional Council for socio­-economic development and political development of Telangana region.

Samaikhyandhra proponents welcomed the report and supported the recommended option.[22] Telangana leaders rejected the recommendations of the Sri Krishna Committee Report and insisted on the formation of a separate Telangana State with Hyderabad as its capital.[23]
Protests in 2010:-
In January, in Krishna District activists stopped trains at various railway stations and resorted to road blockades at some places. As many as 46 trains were “detained” for duration ranging between 2 minutes and 45 minutes at various stations in the Vijayawada division of the South Central Railway. However, no damage to railway properties was reported. MLAs from Congress & TDP participated in the agitation.[24] A government teacher in Tirupati reportedly committed suicide for the cause of the united state leaving a note behind which mentioned that he was saddened by the bandhs strikes and other endeavors being undertaken to split the state.[25]

In February, the ‘Samaikyandhra’ Medical Joint Action Committee in its inaugural session at Tirupati accused P. Chidambaram of ‘conspiring’ to weaken Andhra Pradesh by allegedly encouraging bifurcation of the unified State into Telengana and Andhra. They said that his stand against bifurcation of Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh shows his double standards and his ‘conspiracy’ as a Tamil Nadu politician to weaken Andhra Pradesh by breaking the State into two and thereby put deliberate brakes on its fast-track development recorded especially during the last 15 years.[26]

In September, members of the Samaikyandhra All Universities JAC blocked the State Highway in Vishakapatnam district in protest against the allegations made by a student from Warangal that he was beaten up by some locals after he joined at a B.Ed. college here. The student had not attended classes but made the false allegation and also went on a fast in Warangal to which the TRS MLAs extended support, the JAC said.[27]

In November, on the eve of the state formation day on November 1, the students JAC warned separatist forces against continuing to ignite passions of people. The statue of Potti Sriramulu at Ruia Circle in Tirupati was flooded with garlands as parties and movements of all hues converged to express their strong sentiments advocating the cause of unified Andhra Pradesh.[28]
Protests in 2011:-
In February, Students in Ongole, under the banner of Samaikya Andhra Rashtra Vidyardhi Joint Action Committee (SARVJAC), protested against the film Jai Bolo Telangana by viewing the film with flowers in their ears. The film portrayed the Telangana history and the agitation for statehood. The SARVJAC members took exception to the film's content and scenes, and described it as an attempt to hoodwink the people. They warned the director not to make film that fan regional passions. They also said that actor Jagapathi Babu would not be allowed to enter Seemandhra if he continued to act in such films.[29]

In March, Leaders of Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi performed ‘palabhishekam,' at the statue of Gurram Jashua in Nagarampalam and at the statue of Annamaya protesting against the desecration of statues of eminent Telugu personalities by pro-Telangana forces at Tank Bund during the Million March.[30] In Vijayawada, a rally was taken out by the activists of Jana Vignana Vedika along with members of other cultural and literary organisations. They carried the pictures of eminent litterateurs Sri Sri, Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Chowdary, Annamayya and Kuchipudi exponent Siddhendra Yogi. All of them decried the desecration of statues, saying the likes of Gurazada Appa Rao, Sri Sri, Kandukuri Veeresalingam and Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Chowdary did not belong to any one region or group. Media persons under the banner of AP Union of Working Journalists (Krishna urban unit) took out another rally and staged a dharna at sub-collector's office. Decrying the attacks on media persons and damaging of equipment belonging to various media houses, the journalists said the leadership of Telangana movement must accept responsibility for the incidents.[31]

In July, hundreds of women activists of the Women Joint Action Committee today took out a rally in Kadapa in favour of United State Samaikyandhra and raised slogans in support of a united state.[32]

In October, reacting to the Sakala Janula Samme carried out by the Telangana JAC, congress MLAs pointed out that while the richer sections were not affected, those in the bottom half of the economic strata were the worst-affected. The I-Max theatres and Telangana-based institutions continued their operations while others are made to suffer heavily, they deplored.[33]

On 21 October, a seminar was organised by the Rayalaseema Hakkula Ikya Vedika in Kurnool which was attended by Vedika president T G Venkatesh, 24 MLAs and 4 MLCs from the Congress, TDP and YSR Congress Party. The leaders passed a resolution asking the Centre to keep Andhra Pradesh integrated and warned of serious consequences if the Centre decides in favour of the formation of Telangana. The speakers said that the people of Rayalaseema have made several sacrifices for the formation of Andhra Pradesh, and that they had even compromised on the state capital being shifted to Hyderabad from Kurnool.[34]

On November 1, the formation day of the state of Andhra Pradesh, Samaikyandhra protagonists in Vijayawada reiterated their commitment to keep the State united by paying floral tributes to Potti Sriramulu, whose life sacrifice led to formation of Andhra state in 1953 and later Andhra Pradesh in 1956. At a meeting organised by the SARVJAC, representatives of State government employees, teachers and lawyers vowed to make any sacrifice to prevent any move to divide the state. Cultural programmes were organised to highlight the rich cultural heritage of Telugu people on the occasion.[35].
Protests in 2012:-

In August, the Student JAC warned that it will revive the agitation if the Centre does not come out with a strong message on keeping the State united. At a meeting held on the premises of Acharya Nagarjuna University attended by representatives from 14 universities in Coastal and Rayalaseema regions the activists demanded that the Centre make its stand clear on the Telangana issue and clear the uncertainty in the State.[36]

On December 9, the anniversary of the Union government's statement in 2009, the Samaikya Andhra Rashtra Vidyarthi Joint Action Committee (Sarvjac) organized protests against moves to grant statehood to Telangana and remembered the day as Vidroha Dinam (betrayal day).[37]

On December 28, leaders of the Samaikyandhra Parirakshna Samithi met in Vijayawada and warned of serious problems if separate Telangana state was formed. They also expressed anger at Telangana leaders for their alleged inciting statements. Some educational institutions in Guntur remained closed today in response to the bandh call given by the Smaikyandrhra student JAC and demonstrations were held.[38]

Protests in 2013 :-

In the run-up to the one-month deadline, when the home minister was to announce a decision on the division of state, several political leaders and organizations met him to demand that the state be kept united.[39]

On 10 January, Students led by Samaikyandhra Joint Action Committee picketed in front of Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao's house urging him to take a strong stand for a united state.[40]

On 18 January, leaders of the Samaikyandra students JAC were arrested near Public Gardens in Hyderabad when they tried to hold a meeting at the venue.[41] Samaikyandhra JAC leaders also raided houses of MLAs in the Andhra & Rayalaseema regions demanding them to resign and prevail on the central government to keep the state united.[42] Students under the banner of the Samaikyandhra Vidyarthi Joint Action Committee (SVJAC) held rallies urging the Centre to come out with a clear-cut announcement for keeping the State united. Any delay, according to them, was affecting the development in the State and the future of youth and others sections of people.[43]

On 22 January, 4,673 active advocates practising in the 38 courts across Vishakapatnam district abstained from work as per the call given by the bar association took out a protest rally carrying placards asking the Central government to maintain status quo in the state.[44]

On 25 January, Students and teachers of unaided schools and colleges took out rallies in Kadapa and Anantapur demanding a categorical announcement from the central government that the state will not be bifurcated.[45] They also laid siege to Hindupur MP Nimmala Kistappa and demanded his resignation. Advocates staged protested at Kurnool and Anantapur by boycotting courts. Members of Kurnool Bar Association and Anantapur Bar Associations took out rallies in protest against proposals of separate Telangana state.[15]

In Rajahmundry, a meeting organised by local Congress MP Vundavalli Aruna Kumar and attended by 11 ministers resolved to urge the Union Government not to bifurcate the state. Vundavalli remarked that “The youngsters who died during Telangana agitation are also our children and we are not interested to see their sacrifices. We don’t allow KCR to continue his cheap gimmicks for political mileage”. He said that the TRS should stop whipping up regional passions in the name of a movement.[46]

On 27 January, activists of the Samaikyandhra JAC gheraoed the state Minister for Minor Irrigation T G Venkatesh, in Anantapur demanding that he resign in support of the Samaikyandhra movement. He said that the Union Government as well as the Congress government in the State were committed towards formation of a second SRC as was mentioned in the Congress manifesto.[47]

In June 2013, Samaikyandhra JAC activists protesting BJP's stand on the state division issue were attacked by BJP activists, when they tried to enter a meeting at the townhall in Nellore.[48]

Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi, whose previous party Praja Rajyam supported the united state stand before its merger with Congress, reiterated that personally he was still in favour of the untied state but will abide by whatever the Congress high command decides.[49]

July

On 1 July, Congress party's in-charge of the state, Digvijay Singh said that party is at the final stages of taking decision on Telangana issue. He also directed state chief minister, deputy chief minister and state party president (they represent assembly constituencies in Rayalaseema, Telangana and Coastal Andhra regions respectively) to furnish a roadmap, keeping both options open, that could help lead to a decision.[50]

Amidst reports of the central government reportedly moving towards a decision on the Telangana issue, 4 MLAs & 2 MLCs belonging to the Congress, YSRCP & TDP tendered token resignations to protest against division of the state.[51] SVJAC activists also submitted a representation to Digvijaya Singh not to divide the State after several committees set up had not decided against creation of Telangana. They expressed apprehension that Rayalaseema and Coastal areas would face water and power problems and would slip into backwardness with lands turning into desert. Small states would also lead to problems of Naxalism, JAC State convener D.V. Krishna Yadav and others said in a statement.[52]

In a meeting on 5 July in Anantapur, Samaikyandhra JAC decided to hold a large number of meetings in various districts to exert pressure against dividing the state.[53] A large number of activists from the Samaikyandhra JAC took out a rally at Dharmavaram in Anantapur district. In a related development, Union minister of state for Railways Kotla Jayasurya Prakasha Reddy met Digvijay Singh and represented to him that state should be kept united.[54]

In Vishakapatnam, activists of the Samaikya Andhra Porata Samithi (SAPS) staged a protest and appealed to MP Purandeswari by sending her an Ashada Masa gift of turmeric, kumkum, bananas, sweetmeats and a saree (usually presented by brothers to married sisters during Ashada Masam) through parcel services. They also sent a Kamandala and Vibhoodhi (holy ash) to T. Subbarami Reddy, indirectly urging him to take up the issue seriously or be prepared for political exile. The activists also threatened to lay siege on their houses in Vizag, if they failed to respond positively to their cause for a united Andhra. SAPS state president GA Narayana Rao alleged that the two leaders were neither lobbying for united Andhra in Delhi with the Congress high command nor were they meeting with Seemandhra leaders to express their support to the cause. A group of activists also burnt an effigy of the state government at Andhra University even as another group of activists conducted a meeting of intellectuals supporting the united Andhra cause. While at the intellectuals meet held at the public library, a majority of speakers opposed the government's attitude toward bifurcation, they said they would not accept a division of the state.[55]

In Vijayawada, a meeting was organized under the leadership of Lagadapati Rajagopal which was attended by Union minister J D Seelam who asserted their stand in keeping the state united.[56]

In Guntur, Students JAC called for educational institutions bandh to protest the arrest of JAC leaders during the visit of Union minister Kavuri Sambasiva Rao. Another MP, Rayapati launched a signature campaign organized by the Acharya Nagarjuna University students. A large number of students from local colleges participated in the signature campaign and warned that they would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives if the state was split into two.[57][58]

In Ongole, Student activists laid a siege to the house of Congress MLA B.N.Vijaykumar demanding his resignation for the cause of united Andhra Pradesh. Ahead of the July 12 meeting of Congress core committee, which is expected to discuss the vexed Telangana issue, the students insisted that the legislator put in his papers to put pressure on the Centre to avert the division of the state at any cost.[59]

In Srikakulam, activists conducted rallies and formed human chains in the district asking the Congress not to take any decision in favour of Telangana State saying that it would affect the interests of backward areas such as Srikakulam. Agitators staged a protest in front of the house of Union Minister of State for Communications and Technology Killi Krupa Rani at Tekkali asking her to make a statement in favour of United Andhra Pradesh.[17]

In Tirupati, students of various educational institutes took out a massive rally and formed a human chain at the busy town club circle while advocates decided to boycott their duties. In a meeting jointly convened by SAPS and Sri Venkateswara University Teachers Association (SVUTA) intellectuals strongly opposed the state bifurcation saying that they have already sacrificed two state capital cities Chennai and Kurnool during the formation of Andhra and Andhra Pradesh respectively and that they are not ready to sacrifice another capital city Hyderabad.[60]

In Delhi, activits peacefully stood outside Digvijaya Singh's residence with posters carrying message of unity is strength and many like that.[61]

2013 Congress Working Committee Resolution to form Telangana:-

On 30 July, Indian National Congress party working committee unanimously passed a party resolution for the creation of a Telangana state. It was formally announced that the party would request the Central government to take steps in accordance with the Constitution of India to form a separate state of Telangana within a definite time frame. Andhra Pradesh and the newly formed Telangana state would share the current capital city Hyderabad as the common capital city for a period of 10 years.[62] The Indian National Congress party also announced that all the concerns of people from remaining regions regarding sharing of water & power resources will be addressed. TRS welcomed the decision and its chief KCR said that his party is fine with Hyderabad being the joint capital.[63].

Public Protests:-

The decision to create a separate state triggered protests across the Andhra & Rayalaseema regions. A bandh was observed on 31 July amidst sporadic protests by students, the NGOs (the non-gazetted government employees) and other sections of the public. Protesters raised slogans and burnt effigies of Sonia Gandhi and KCR.

In Vizianagaram, a home guard committed suicide in protest against the decision and another death, of a student, was reported from Guntur over the same issue. In Vishakapatnam, bandh was peaceful with representatives of various groups advocating the cause of an integrated state protesting at various junctions in the city expressing their ire at the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. APSRTC employees union and AP Government Doctors Association also extended their support to keep the state united. Members of the Visakhapatnam Bar Association condemned bifurcation of the State and went round the court premises holding banners demanding that the Government keep the State unified.[64] In Ananthapur, protesters went on a rampage damaging statues of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and engaged police in a pitched battle. The furniture in some government offices were also damaged. While all educational institutes and commercial establishments voluntarily downed their businesses, the agitators obstructed the movement of buses in Tirupati. In Chittoor all commercial activity came to a standstill and educational institutions were closed. APSRTC buses were confined to depots with employees to joining the protests. In Nellore, agitators detained a train for 15 minutes and students blocked the road for 30 minutes after climbing atop city buses and raising slogans against Sonia Gandhi.[65][66] In Vijayawada, Students JAC took out a rally and raised slogans in support of Samaikyandhra. Sri Krishnadevarya University, a centre of the protests and the origin of many movements witnessed protests with students staging rasta roko on the National Highway. The university staff also joined in the protest. Samaikyandhra students JAC performed a homam. Activists of Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi took out a procession with an effigy of the Centre and performed shavayatra and last rites on the main roads of Anantapur. MIM activists of Anantapur also staged a protest against the decision to split the state.[67][68]

On 1 August, the protests and complete shutdown continued. In Kadapa protestors vandalized statue of Indira Gandhi and tried to attack the district Congress office. All private business establishments, banks, government offices, hotels remained closed. APSRTC buses, private passenger buses as well as three wheelers were off the roads. Two youth also attempted self-immolation. In Kurnool, a statue of Rajiv Gandhi was vandalized. At Proddatur, agitators observed a shut down and partially damaged a Rajiv Gandhi statue. In the East Godavari district, protests against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh continued, with APSRTC buses and government properties being damaged. In Rajamundry, all educational, commercial, financial institutions including ATMs and government office remained closed and joined the on-going agitation. Roads were deserted after the withdrawal of APSRTC bus services due to damage caused by agitators in Peddapuram[69] At Narsipatnam, nearly 20,000 students organised a human chain expressing their displeasure over the formation of Telangana. Lawyers also boycotted courts as part of their 72-hour boycott, demanding the central government to keep Andhra Pradesh united.

On 3 August, around 3,500 Seemandhra employees in the Secretariat boycotted their duties took out a rally under the banner ‘Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Seemandhra Employees Forum’ and staged a dharna. They gheraoed minister S Sailajanath and former minister Gade Venkata Reddy who visited the Secretariat to extend their support to the agitating employees.[70]

Muslims at many places organized iftar parties on highways and road junctions as a way of lodging protest against the division of Andhra Pradesh. Thousands of Muslims took out processions in Dharmavaram, Anantapur, Nuzvidu, Visakhapatnam, Jaggaiahpet and Kadapa and squatted on junctions to break their fast. Samaikyandhra Muslims JAC expressed fears that partition of the state would benefit the BJP in Telangana and Seemandhra regions and anti-secular forces would gain the upper hand. Christian associations too conducted demonstrations and a car rally in Visakhapatnam, with one of the participants dressed up as Jesus Christ blessing the people of the Port City. Hindu priests also extended their support to the united Andhra agitation on Monday. This is the first time that people are participating in the Samaikhyandhra struggle flaunting their community and trade tags. Caste groups also participated in large numbers. The Scheduled Castes JAC too has been conducting rallies in association with the Samaikyandhra youth JAC for the past couple of weeks.[71]

The protests also included exclusive demonstrations by advocates, teachers, students, automobile mechanics, bus and lorry owners, drivers, tailors, barbers, butchers, goldsmiths, carpenters and merchants in different parts of the region. Autorickshaw drivers demonstrated took out three-wheeler rallies, lorry drivers and owners paraded their vehicles in long processions. Barbers resorted to free haircuts and tonsures while homemakers and women employees used brooms to sweep roads as a mark of protest.

On 6 August, Students of Andhra University and Sri Krishnadevaraya University clashed with the police. Business and commercial establishments, offices and road transport remained shut across coastal and Rayalaseema districts. Protesters blocked highways and roads bringing traffic to a standstill as school teachers also joined the protests.[72] In Anantapur, agitators stopped a passenger train at the railway station. Supporters held a bike rally and also staged demonstrations in towns like Dharmavaram and Penukonda. Advocates cooked food on the roads, blocking vehicles in front of the court in the city. In Kurnool and Nellore districts, protesters cooked food on roads, besides organising massive rallies and blocking roads. Members of the AP NGO's Association and students held a protest near the residence of union minister Panabaka Lakshmi and BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu in Nellore. A large number of students squatted on roads and formed human chains in Ongole, even as united Andhra Pradesh supporters burnt effigies of KCR, in Srikakulam district. Protesters danced on roads in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts raising slogans like, "KCR down down". A rally involving heavy vehicles, tractors and autorickshaws was held in Chittoor district, while protesters burnt tyres on the roads. In Rayachoti, Rajampet and Produttoor towns of Kadapa district, protesters, including hundreds of women, held rallies in support of their demands, besides cooking food on roads. Similar protests were also held in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari and West Godavari districts. Some supporters also allegedly damaged window panes of two APSRTC buses in Chittoor district even as the Corporation managed to operate only 63.11 per cent of its total services in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions. Out of the daily scheduled 11,445 services being operated in the districts of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh, the APSRTC operated 7,223 services. The APSRTC has been making a loss of Rs 3.5 crore per day, due to the ongoing agitation, according to officials. In East Godavari district, processions, effigy burning and rasta roko by supporters marked the agitation against the state's division. People from various walks of life, including lawyers, municipal employees, doctors, students and commercial establishment workers participated in the stir. Educational, commercial and financial establishments, including banks ATMs, remained closed in the coastal Andhra district for the seventh day. The protesters, including women, raised slogans like 'United Andhra Pradesh zindabad,' and 'Hyderabad belongs to all'. Kadapa district saw rallies, dharnas and relay fasts over the bifurcation issue. The agitators shouted slogans against KCR and Sonia Gandhi. School students, teachers and businesspersons also took out rallies. Pro-AP supporters assembled near the houses of State Minister C Ramachandraiah and YSR Congress Honorary President Vijayamma demanding their resignation. Municipal employees in the district also continued their boycott of duties.[73]

On 7 August, Goldsmiths in Vishakapatnam closed their shops voluntarily and took out a rally against bifurcation of the State. Carrying a huge effigy of KCR, depicted as the 10-headed Ravana, and the 10 heads showing the Congress leaders who were responsible for the bifurcation of the State, they raised slogans denouncing KCR and Sonia Gandhi and demanding that the State should remain united. A torch rally was organised in which Bheemunipatnam MLA M. Srinivas Rao participated.[74] Owners of cinema theatres of Krishna district kept their halls closed for the entire day, cancelling all four shows in single-screen cinema halls and in multiplexes in support of the movement.[75] A youth committed suicide right in Chittoor district after shouting slogans in favour of ‘Samaikhyandhra Pradesh’. An unemployed engineering graduate committed suicide by consuming pesticide and held TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Union Ministers P. Chidambaram, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Digvijay Singh responsible for the State’s split.[76]

On 8 August, Hundreds of supporters including students and members of different organisations took out rallies in all 13 districts of Andhra & Rayalaseema. Seemandhra employees working in Secretariat held a silent protest rally in Hyderabad while at some places in the Seemandhra districts the protesters wore blind-folds during a demonstration. Some protesters also took to the street bare-chested and carried out bike rallies in Chittoor, Kadapa and Srikakulam districts. While relay hunger strike was held by protesters in Rajahmundry, others formed human chains and squatted on roads protesting the Congress and UPA's decision. Over 1,000 people have been taken into preventive custody in connection with the agitation by supporters of united Andhra Pradesh. Besides, 221 people were arrested so far and as many as 124 criminal cases were registered against the protesters in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts in the wake of the Samaikyandhra agitation, according to police. Ramachandrapuram MLA Thota Trimurthulu took out a padyatra while another MLA Kanna Babu performed a fire ritual ('homam') in Kakinada. Bike rallies were organised by students at Kakinada. Protests were held in various parts of the East Godavari district.[77] Animal Husbandry Department employees staged a novel protest in Vijayawada by including the ‘gangireddulu’, (decorated bullocks) and dogs as part of the protest rally. The ‘gangireddulu’, known to follow the rules of their master, carried banner with slogan that they were also opposed to bifurcation; another attraction was a dog seated on a chair with the banner — ‘asamardhulani andalamekkiste’ (if incompetent are crowned) — indirectly referring to government. Some members of the Poura Samaja Vedika sat on relay hunger strike. Gujarati and Rajasthani Samaj members took out a rally and Vijayawada Car Motor Union, taxies associations etc. took out a car rally.[78]

On 9 August, Muslims also took part in protests after prayers at Idgahs and mosques in many parts of Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool. They expressed solidarity at the relay fast venue of JACTO and also took out a rally shouting slogans for Samaikyandhra and opposing the decision to divide the state.[79]

On 13 August,normal life was paralysed in 13 districts across Andhra & Rayalseema regions with public transport remaining off the road and over four lakh government employees going on an indefinite strike in protest against the move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. Petrol bunks, educational institutions, cinema halls, shops and establishments were closed at most places even as various forms of protests, including hunger strike, rallies and vanta varpu were organised. In Vizianagaram, all the 840 APSRTC services from nine depots in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts remained off the road, while the Collector’s office and other government departments wore a deserted look. Normal life was also affected in Prakasam district as bandh was observed by Samaikyandhra JAC leaders. Taxi owners took out a procession and burnt an effigy of TRS president KCR in Ongole town while the agitators set ablaze the effigy of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at Markapur.[80]

Meanwhile spouses of Ministers from Seemandhra called on Governor E.S. L. Narasimhan and petitioned him against bifurcation of the State.

Protests by Political Parties:-
On 1 August, One minister and 18 legislators from the Congress Party in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions resigned over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.[81]

On 5 August, MPs belonging to both Congress and TDP created uproar in both Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha demanding a clear statement from the government to keep the state united.[82]

On 10 August, president of the YSR Congress Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother, YSR Congress Legislature Party leader Y.S. Vijayalakshmi resigned from their memberships of the Lok Sabha and Assembly respectively to protest the Congress’ unilateral decision to go ahead with the creation of Telangana state without addressing the concerns of other regions of the state.[83]

On 12 August, two state ministers resigned from their posts protesting the proposed bifurcation of the state.[84]

On 13 August, Members of the Congress party, including Cabinet Ministers, MPs & MLAs held a protest and raised slogans in the Parliament premises demanding a united Andhra Pradesh.[85] TDP MP Naramalli Sivaprasad created uproar in the Lok Sabha by dressing up as Lord Krishna and trooping into the well of the House to protest.[86]

Support in Telangana
AIMIM party which represents majority of assembly segments in Hyderabad region has consistently reiterated their commitment towards a unified state. Also, Sangareddy MLA Jagga Reddy has come in support of keeping the state united. Apart from this though, there is no visible active political support for this movement from any political parties in the Telangana region.[87][88][89] Samaikya Andhra JAC could not organize any public event in Telangana region due to threats & objections by groups favoring separate State for Telangana.[90]

In 2010, Chiranjeevi and Jagan Mohan Reddy who had openly supported this movement had faced trouble attending some public events in Telangana region, in the form of attacks by pro-telangana activits.[91][92] Later, they had addressed several rallies in the region.[93]

In light of the ongoing violent agitations and political gridlock, some politicians have suggested to include Nalgonda district in to Seemandhra instead of Kurnool district. This could resolve the issue of hyderabad as a permanent common capital. This proposal means Hyderabad can be a border city of telangana and seemandhra. Many Telangana leaders have opposed this plan.[94]

Support from NRIs:-

This movement has also received support from NRIs settled abroad with AndhraPradeshNRI.org, a non-profit organization created to provide a platform to reflect the views of NRIs of Andhra Pradesh origin, organizing several events across the US to celebrate the AP formation day in November 2010.[95] No politician from Telangana attended these events. A group of Telangana NRIs protested at the events organized by Samaikya Andhra proponents.[96]

Telugus in Canada cutting across regional lines criticized the Indian government for succumbing to "blackmail" to create Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh and have come out against the division of the state.[97]
Demands of the activists

The activists demanded that the safeguards for Telangana region be removed for continuation of Andhra Pradesh. The demands were

Mulkhi rules (Local quota) be removed
Supreme Court order in favour of locals repealed
Telangana Regional committee dissolved
Replace two budgets, one for Telangana region and one for Andhra region into one state budget

The movement

Under the Mulki rules in force at the time, anyone who had lived in Hyderabad for 15 years was considered a local, and was thus eligible for certain government posts. When the Supreme Court upheld the Mulki rules at the end of 1972, the Jai Andhra movement, with the aim of re-forming a separate state of Andhra, was started in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.[5]

In 1972, Latchanna took a leading role in the Jai Andhra movement started by students of Andhra University demanding the division of Andhra Pradesh into old Andhra state and Telangana state on the issue of "Mulkhi" rules. He was imprisoned in Mushirabad Central Jail and released in 1973.[6]
Police firing

In the police firing eight people were killed. Kakani Venkataratnam, a former minister, died of shock at the height of separate Andhra agitation on December 25, 1972 when eight people were killed in police firing.
Aftermath

Removal of Mukhi rules and all other demands were met and a six-point formula was put in place.

After nine ministers from Andhra region in the P. V. Narasimha Rao cabinet resigned, he had to resign as Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on 10 January 1973, and President's rule was imposed in the state.
References

^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906815,00.html
^ http://www.rediff.com/news/report/ap/20061226.htm
^ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/jai-andhra-movement-for-separate-statehood-revives-in-ap/article60614.ece
^ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/blackmail-tactics-cant-divide-the-state-says-saps/article4889350.ece
^ "Bitter memories". Hinduonnet.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
^ In 1972, Sri Latchanna took a leading role in the Jai-Andhra movement launched by the students of the Andhra University