Telangana issue: Seven Union ministers resign as protest continues

HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju, who last night held back his resignation, today announced his decision to go ahead with it ignoring Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's counsel not to take any hasty step.u00a0

Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy, MoS Railways and son of late Rayalaseema stalwart K Vijayabhaskar Reddy, also said he met the Prime Minister and gave his resignation. Singh advised him against taking any "emotional step", according to him.

Other Ministers K Sambasiva Rao (Textiles), K Chiranjeevi (Tourism), D Purandeswari (MoS Commerce) and Killi Kruparani (MoS IT and Communications) are also understood to have resigned, according to their aides.

Supporters of united Andhra Pradesh shout slogans during a protest against the formation of Telangana state, in Ananthapuram district near Hyderabad. Pic/AFP

Congress MPs, who had already resigned from the Lok Sabha on Telangana issue, have now threatened to quit the party. They include R Sambasiva Rao, Ananta Venkatarami Reddy, Sabbam Hari and Vundavali Arun Kumar.

At a press conference in Delhi, Sambasiva Rao accused the Congress of doing injustice to Telugus and even praised BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

In Andhra Pradesh also, state Law Minister E Pratap Reddy met Governor and submitted his resignation. The resignations took place while Seemandhra region witnessed widespread protests and shutdown.

Supporters of united Andhra Pradesh, dressed in nighties with the masks of state Congress leaders, shout slogans during a protest against the formation of Telangana state, in Ananthapuram district near Hyderabad. Pic/AFP

YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy announced an indefinite fast from tomorrow while former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would begin fast-unto-death in Delhi from November 7.

Notwithstanding the resignations and protests in Seemandhra, the Congress said there was no question of backtracking while Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said such feelings were quite natural when a state is being carved out.