Telangana row: Cases against students withdrawn

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced the withdrawal of 565 cases against 2,436 students, who had been booked in connection with pro-Telangana protests and demands for an united Andhra Pradesh.
 
But pro-Telangana parties are not satisfied as the government has not withdrawn the cases of serious offences including violence and destruction of private property. Telangana Rashtra Samiti, which had stalled the House proceedings for the last two days, continued its protest, forcing Deputy Speaker D Manohar to adjourn the House for some time.
 
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said in the state assembly on Monday that the government will review each of the remaining cases separately and take a decision.
 
Referring to the criticism over the delay in withdrawing the cases against the students even after Home Minister P Chidambaram promised to do so on December 9, 2009, state Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy said that the government had to follow a procedure. "Till the time of the statement, only 400 cases were booked. More cases were booked during the subsequent agitations in all the regions," she said.
 
The cases were withdrawn against the students of Telangana, Andhra and Rayala Seema regions, she said, urging the students not to spoil their future by violating the law and getting involved in violence.
 
 "We are withdrawing the cases keeping in mind the future of the students," said the CM.
 
However members of Telangana Rashtra Samiti, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India and some members of the Congress continued to insist on unconditional withdrawal of all the cases against the students.
 
Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu said that while withdrawing all the cases, the government should also carry out its duty of maintaining law and order.
 
E Rajinder of TRS sought unconditional withdrawal of cases against all the students and the release of those still in jail.

Congress leader R Damodar Reddy (Congress) pointed out that the government had powers to withdraw the cases which were pending before the court.
 
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and Lok Satta leader Jayprakash Narayan maintained that it should be ensured that such violence incidents do not recur.