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India to form new southern state India to form new southern state
(about 4 hours later)
India's government has said it plans to allow a new state to be created from part of southern Andhra Pradesh state. The Indian government is to allow a new state to be carved out of part of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Home Minister P Chidambaram said the process of forming the state of Telangana would begin soon. Home Minister P Chidambaram said the process of forming Telangana state would begin soon. Campaigners say the region has long been neglected.
Campaigners for a Telangana state say the region has long been neglected. One of their leaders has ended a hunger strike. His supporters are celebrating. Supporters of the state are celebrating after days of violent protests. One of their leaders ended a hunger strike.
But 70 state assembly members are resigning in protest, which observers say could lead to a political crisis. But many in India fear acceding to the protesters' wishes could fuel demands for other new states across India.
The legislators, mostly from to the state's governing Congress party, said they were not consulted by the federal government before it decided to form the new state. Dozens of Andhra Pradesh assembly members and at least one Indian MP with a seat in the state have announced they are resigning in protest at the move.
Two members of India's national parliament with seats in Andhra Pradesh - one a Congress party member and the other from the state's opposition Telugu Desam Party - have also handed in their resignations. Analysts say the flurry of resignations, mostly from the governing Congress party, could lead to a political crisis in Andhra Pradesh.
The demand for separate state status for the underdeveloped and drought-prone Telangana region dates back 50 years. Correspondents say Telangana state is likely to include one of India's major software hubs, Hyderabad.
The region is spread over 10 northern districts of Andhra Pradesh. The city, currently the Andhra Pradesh capital, is home to leading world companies in India like Microsoft and Google.
Campaigners for the new state say that economic development in their region has been neglected in favour of the richer and more powerful Andhra region. The government announcement came at midnight on Wednesday.
K Chandrasekara Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) broke his fast after Mr Chidambaram's announcement. "The process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated. An appropriate resolution will be moved in the state assembly," Mr Chidambaram said after talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Rao quit the Congress-led government in 2006, saying the government had not fulfilled its "assurance" for a separate Telangana state. ANALYSIS Sanjoy MajumderBBC News, Delhi
'Happy' Many are concerned that the move may open a Pandora's box.
The government announcement came after days of protests by Telangana separatists. They fear that this will only fuel similar movements in other states and end up significantly redrawing the map of the country.
"The process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated. An appropriate resolution will be moved in the state assembly," Mr Chidambaram said at midnight after talks with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi. Already one member of parliament from Andhra Pradesh has resigned in protest over the decision to create Telangana.
Mr Rao broke his fast after 11 days Photo: Snaps India The government appears to have given into the demands of protesters, particularly after the leader of the campaign became dangerously ill following a hunger strike to press home his point.
He said the government had asked the authorities in Andhra Pradesh to withdraw court cases against leaders, students and others "associated with the present agitation". It's clear this is not the last that has been heard on this volatile issue.
Mr Chidambaram appealed to protesters to call off their demonstrations. On hearing the news, crowds in Hyderabad and nine other districts of Telangana erupted in celebration, reports the BBC's Omer Farooq in the state capital.
His announcement was greeted with celebrations among the protesters. Mr Chidambaram said the government had asked for court cases against leaders, students and others "associated with the present agitation" to be dropped.
Supporters of the protest burst crackers, beat drums, danced and sang songs - some of them outside the hospital where Mr Rao had been admitted during his fast. He also appealed to protesters to call off their demonstrations.
His announcement was greeted with jubilation among protesters, who let off fire crackers, beat drums, danced and sang songs.
Some of the celebrations took place outside the Hyderabad hospital where one of the campaign leaders, K Chandrasekara Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) party, had been admitted during his fast.
Mr Rao said: "I am happy that this is the victory of 35 million people who live in the Telangana region."Mr Rao said: "I am happy that this is the victory of 35 million people who live in the Telangana region."
Protest rallies seeking a separate state planned for Thursday will now be "turned into victory rallies", organisers said. Protest rallies seeking a separate state planned for Thursday were called off.
Thousands of police were deployed in Hyderabad ahead of the rallies, but after Mr Chidambaram's announcement, security will be relaxed, say correspondents. Thousands of police had been deployed for the rallies, but after Mr Chidambaram's announcement security was relaxed, our correspondent says.
The last three new states in India were formed in 2000: Chhattisgarh was created out of eastern Madhya Pradesh; Uttarakhand was created out of the hilly areas of northern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand was created out of the southern districts of Bihar. Long campaign
India has 28 states. Telangana region is spread over 10 northern districts of Andhra Pradesh.
INDIA'S NEWEST STATE Population of 35 millionFormed from 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh, including city of HyderabadLandlocked, predominantly agricultural areaOne of the most under-developed regions in IndiaCulmination of 50-year campaignMore than 400 people died in 1969 crackdown
The demand for separate state status for the underdeveloped and drought-prone area dates back 50 years.
More than 400 people died in violence over the demand for a Telangana state in 1969.More than 400 people died in violence over the demand for a Telangana state in 1969.
Campaigners say Telangana's economic development has been neglected in favour of the richer and more powerful Andhra region - and that a new state is the only solution.
The last three new states in India were formed in 2000: Chhattisgarh was created out of eastern Madhya Pradesh; Uttarakhand was created out of the hilly areas of northern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand was carved from Bihar's southern districts.
India currently has 28 states.


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