The Congress has appealed to the pro-Telangana protesters in Andhra Pradesh to call off their five-week-old agitation in view of the hardships being faced by people in the festive season. Talking to reporters in New Delhi Union Minister of Health Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is also in charge of Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh, said on Sunday that there is a prolonged agitation in Telangana by employees of the state government.

As a result, the general public is suffering and facing hardships particularly during the festival days. He appealed to the employees of Telangana to call off the strike and said they should help the state government provide all facilities which are required for the general public.