The Telangana issue is threatening to throw Hyderabad into complete chaos on Wednesday (December 9) ahead of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti's (TRS) march to the Andhra Assembly tomorrow. Along with the TRS, the Joint Action Committee of Students Union's have threatened to storm the Assembly on December 10 and with violent clashes over the past few days. 

Over 15,000 angry students from the Osmania and Kakatia universities and various other colleges and schools continued to intensify their agitation on Wednesday (December 9) for a separate Telangana campaign. However, the state government is not taking any chances. Despite several students being taken into preventive custody, protests only escalated with time. 

Over 12,500 armed policemen and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the city. In view of the 'Chalo Assembly' call given by TRS and the students union, elaborate security arrangements have been made. Besides, prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 will be clamped from 6 pm on Wednesday to 6 pm on December 10, City Police Commissioner D Prasada Rao told reporters yesterday. 

As part of the arrangements, 106 platoons drawn from AP Special Police (APSP), City Armed Reserve and 33 platoons from Rapid Action Force, CISF, CRPF and Karnataka Armed Reserve besides 1,000 members of Civil Police and 8,000 armed police personnel of the city itself will be posted in different parts in the metropolis, Rao said. 

"We are taking necessary precautionary measures to maintain law and order. We have information that anti-social elements are trying to mix with these groups to create problem," the top cop said. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to call a meeting of Congress leaders later today to discuss the developments and make an appeal for peace. 

Din in Andhra Assembly 

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned twice on Wednesday (December 9) over the TRS demand for passing a resolution favouring formation of a separate Telangana state. For the second consecutive day, TRS members, holding placards, raised slogans and demanded that the House pass the resolution in favour of Telangana. 

The Centre should be given time to take a decision on the Telangana issue, Chief Minister K Rosaiah said and appealed to the TRS members to let the House take up business as per the agenda. "This (Telangana) is a sensitive issue. It is not easy to pass a resolution. Don't you want the resolution to win (if introduced). The issue is under consideration of the government. You have made your point. Let the House discuss other public issues of importance," Rosaiah said. 

Rosaiah stressed the need to observe restraint as emotions and tempers are running high over the issue. "It will be very difficult, if the situation goes out of control," he said. 

Senior TRS legislator T Harish Rao, however, alleged that Rosaiah is behaving like the Roman king who played fiddle when Rome was burning. "We expected Rosaiah to find a solution. When our leader Chandrasekhar Rao has been on fast for the last ten days, you are not bothered. The Telangana people are agitated," he said.