A day after the Union Government junked the idea of Rayala Telangana and approved the original plan of Telangana State comprising 10 districts, Seemandhra region observed a complete shutdown describing it a ‘black day’ in the history of Andhra Pradesh.
In a historic development, the Union Cabinet approved the draft State reorganisation Bill on Thursday evening, based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers. This came a few days of intense speculation and nerve wrecking suspense that the Centre was tilting towards the idea of Rayala Telangana comprising of 12 districts. It had triggered a wave of anger and frustration in Telangana reflected in Thursday’s total strike.
But in an equally inexplicable manner the Cabinet dropped the idea like a hot potato. While this gladdened the hearts of Telangana supporters, the other points in the draft Bill has left them dissatisfied. The draft Bill has a provision to make Hyderabad a joint capital of the two States for a maximum period of 10 years. More controversially the Centre has also proposed the law and order in the joint capital will be in the hands of the Governor of Telangana who will be assisted by two advisers of the Central Government.