Tirupati:
The demand for a united Andhra Pradesh is getting louder and stronger. Today, around 50,000 people gathered at Tirupati demanding a status quo in the state, even though the Centre has decided to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and Seemandhra.
Dr Koduru Balasubramanyam, a key member of the Samaikyandhra Parirakshana that spearheaded the protest, told NDTV "If you don't listen, political leaders would be sent back to Delhi and if required we would even boycott 2014 Lok Sabha polls."
In attendance were large number of students from schools and colleges. There's panic among them that those in the Rayalaseema region would lose opportunity in education and employment if the present capital Hyderabad is lost to Telengana on bifurcation.
A college student says, "After separation there would be no scope or opportunity for us. All IT companies and major central universities and business schools are in Hyderabad, where would we go?"
KP Veerendra, Vice Principal, Venkatesa Perumal College adds, "though the new state would have 10 years to build its capital, almost two to three generations of our students will lose opportunity. It takes lot of time to build infrastructure."
Dr Ashok Rajan, an Educationist, says "Soon they would ask Seemandhra students to go back".
Farmers are worried that the upper riparian Telengana state could deny them water. One farmer said, "They would treat us like drainage. Only when they have floods, surplus water would be released for us. What would farmers do?"
There are also fears over the impact on business and health care. Most super specialty courses are available only in Hyderabad and the Rayalaseema region has very few seats even now. The new capital planned in 10 years, they say, would be a poor match to Hyderabad. One member explained "How come you expect to develop a new capital in 10 years? We took 70 years to develop Hyderabad."
Dr Sudha, Ophthalmologist summarised the public sentiment in Tirupati: "All these years we thought Hyderabad is ours, we gave our blood. None is willing now to accept it is not ours."
Mounting pressure over the last one month, government buses are off roads in the region. The road to Tirumala remains deserted. On Saturday their campaign would shift base to capital Hyderabad for a meet on "Save Andhra".