Source: news.bbc.co.uk
INDIA, December 11, 2009: The Indian government is to allow a new state to be carved out of part of the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the process of forming Telangana state would begin soon. Campaigners say the region has long been neglected. Supporters of the state are celebrating after days of violent protests. But many in India fear acceding to the protesters’ wishes could fuel demands for other new states across India.
Correspondents say Telangana state is likely to include one of India’s major software hubs, Hyderabad. The city, currently the Andhra Pradesh capital, is home to leading world companies in India like Microsoft and Google.
The last three new states in India were formed in 2000: Chhattisgarh was created out of eastern Madhya Pradesh; Uttarakhand was created out of the hilly areas of northern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand was carved from Bihar’s southern districts. India currently has 28 states.