Andhra Pradesh grinds to a halt

Hyderabad: Businesses and shops were shut and vehicles stayed off the roads Thursday in Andhra Pradesh as part of a two-day strike protesting the federal government's decision to delay the creation of a new state.

Hundreds of armed police and paramilitary troops patrolled the streets as the strike paralysed Hyderabad and several parts of the Telangana area, where the new state is proposed.

Activists in Telangana had complained that the region was underdeveloped and ignored by powerful politicians from southern Andhra Pradesh. Demands for a separate state had erupted sporadically since the 1950s.

On Wednesday night, Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said the situation in Andhra Pradesh "has altered" since his initial announcement promising the creation of Telangana.

"A large number of political parties are divided on the issue," he said. "There is a need to hold wide-ranging consultations with all political parties and groups in the state."

Chidambaram's statement is viewed as a delaying tactic by Telangana supporters. After his comments, hundreds of protesters took to the streets burning and damaging dozens of buses.

K. Chandrasekhara Rao, the politician who went on the hunger strike, called the statement, "a betrayal of the people of Telangana".

"This is an attempt to put Telangana into cold storage. He has used the words ‘wide-ranging consultation with all political parties' without giving any timeframe. How long this will go on?" Rao said.

The 48-hour strike was called by the Telangana supporters from various political parties.