The crisis over the Telangana issue on Friday deepened further with all 13 Andhra Pradesh ministers from that region faxing a common resignation letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi even as pro-statehood protesters set ablaze vehicles and indulged in violence in several areas.
The ministers, who said they were resigning from the government on the statehood issue, met Chief Minister K Rosaiah at the Secretariat here and informed him about their decision.
Later, P Lakshmaiah, Sabita Reddy, D Sridhar Babu and other ministers said they have requested the Centre to announce a clear cut time-frame for formation of a separate Telangana state.
They said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement on December 23 that the situation had altered since the announcement of a separate state, was "confusing". They also said they would seek an appointment soon to meet Gandhi.
The situation in Telangana region continued to be tense with a pro-statehood activists holding protests and setting up road blocks despite the Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) withdrawing its second day of the bandh call today due to Christmas.
The Joint Action Committee of Telangana (JAC) activists allegedly attacked Civil Supplies Department's godown and burnt vehicles in Mahabubnagar.
In Warangal city, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) protesters allegedly pelted stones at the house of Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah, who has now sent his resignation with 12 other ministers to the Congress President. The police prevented them from entering into the minister's house.
Raising pro-Telangana slogans, hundreds of students took out massive rallies and later assembled in front of the Kakatiya University in Warangal and staged a demonstration.
In Adilabad district, pro-Telangana activists also held rallies, set up road blockades and burnt effigies, while in Karimnagar, agitators damaged eight trucks besides burning a car and a jeep in Godavarikhani, police said.
The protesters also set afire a railway signal cabin office near Raghavapur railway station late last night, police said.
Expressing their support to Telangana movement, workers of Singareni Colleries abstained from work while some unidentified elements partially damaged the statue of Indira Gandhi in Pothugal village under Mustabad police station limits, they said.
Protests also continued in Medak district with activists of different political parties resorting to road blockades, dharnas and burning of effigies at several places.
The agitators burnt effigies of noted Telugu actor Mohan Babu, who has joined the united Andhra Pradesh movement, in Zaheerabad and Kondapaka areas. PTI
