Division of Andhra Pradesh not acceptable: Congress MP

"We will not allow the division of Andhra Pradesh. Why should Andhra be divided?" Rajagopal told reporters here.

Rajagopal and 130 legislators from the state assembly had submitted their resignations in protest against the central go
vernment's nod to creation of a separate Telangana state. A final decision on initiating the process of statehood has been apparently delayed.

"The situation in Andhra Pradesh is very disturbing," Rajagopal said voicing his concern.

"Now I have decided to join the movement (against division of the state). Hyderabad (which is proposed to be the capital of Telangana, when created) is the mother and the 22 districts of Andhra Pradesh are her children. We will not betray our mother," he said.

"I wish that peace prevails in the state and that Telugu-speaking people the world over and in Andhra Pradesh come and demonstrate their unity," the Congress MP said, adding he was proud to be working under the leadership of party president Sonia Gandhi.

NTR's widow arrested for hunger strike in Hyderabad 

Hyderabad police Sunday arrested Lakshmi Parvathi, the widow of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, after she launched a one-day hunger strike here to protest the proposed division of the state.

Police have already imposed prohibitory orders in the city to maintain law and order in view of the continuing mass protests in parts of the state.

Talking to reporters, Lakshmi Parvathi demanded that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu apologise to the people of the state for agreeing to its division.

She said by supporting the division of the state, Naidu had hurt the sentiments of the people. She recalled that TDP founder NTR always stood for a united state of all Telugu speaking people.

Lakshmi Parvathi, who went into political oblivion after the death of NTR in 1996, alleged that Tamil Nadu was behind the conspiracy to divide Andhra Pradesh.

"They want to settle scores with Andhra for walking out of then Madras state," she said.