India to create new southern state after protests

New Delhi - The Indian government has announced that it is to begin the process of carving a new state out of Andhra Pradesh state, officials said Thursday. India's federal Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram made the announcement late Wednesday after violent protests by separatists and an 11-day hunger strike by regional politician, K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is leading the movement.

"Last night, the government announced that it will initiate the process to form the state of Telangana," Chidambaram said in New Delhi.

The minister said a resolution on the issue would be moved in the state assembly and Andhra Pradesh authorities were requested to withdraw all the cases against leaders and students associated with the protests.

Telangana is a region surrounding Hyderabad, one of India's key IT hubs and the state capital of Andhra Pradesh, comprising largely people who speak the Telugu language.

The movement for a separate Telangana state dates back over 50 years and Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) party has been spearheading the cause since 2001.

The TRS along with other supporters of the Telangana state feel assurances made in the past have not been kept and the region remains neglected compared to other parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Violent protests gripped the region after Rao went on hunger strike on November 29. More than 20 people committed suicide in support of a separate state, local media reported.

Rao broke his fast after Chidabambaram's statement.

"After nearly five decades of struggle, the federal government has announced the process of forming Telangana," Rao told reporters. "A lot of sacrifices have been made. I salute all the people, the youth and party workers," he said.

Supporters of the new state burned crackers, distributed sweets, beat drums and danced in the streets following the announcement. The protest rallies planned for Thursday would now be "victory rallies," TRS leaders said.

The new state is expected to consist of 10 out of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh but the TRS' demand to include technology hub Hyderabad in the new state is likely to be met with stiff resistance.