Antisocial elements or Maoists in Telangana movement?

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Wednesday said "anti-social elements" had joined the movement for a Telangana state. Police believe Maoists have penetrated the movement through students and other sympathisers.

While Rosaiah told reporters in the assembly premises that his government had received information about "anti-social elements" and was looking into it, a senior police official pointed out that Maoists always supported the demand for separate Telangana state.

"Everybody knows the problems in states like Jharkhand. Telangana is their (Maoists) birthplace and naturally they will try to take advantage of the situation," said Inspector General of Police A.R. Anuradha.

The police crackdown on students at Osmania University also came following intelligence reports that Maoists had joined the movement for a separate state and might use the situation to recruit students.

Telangana was a traditional stronghold of Maoists but they were almost eliminated from the region in police operations during the last few years.

Telengana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders have alleged that a section of Congress leaders opposed to Rosaiah were trying to foment trouble in Hyderabad by bringing people from outside.

Addressing the assembly, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu told the government that it was responsible for protecting the lives and property of people.

Rosaiah has said he would be in New Delhi Wednesday to greet party president Sonia Gandhi on her birthday and would discuss the Telangana issue with her.