Suicide for Country

Today I was stopped short by the article on the rising suicide rate in India, some may even call it an epidemic.
People are taking their own life , over 200 so far, as protest in hopes of creating India's 29th state, Telangana, which is currently part of Andhra Pradesh (a very large state in the southern point of India).
It got me thinking about the suicide missions of the Islamic extremists and I guess you could call it an ethical debate on whether this form of suicide could be deemed acceptable by others.
My one huge difference that came to mind was the fact that the extremists take others lives along with their own and that is what makes it disgraceful in my book.
Outside of that, suicide really rattles me and while I understand they are doing it for a cause is this really the only way to be heard? The article said over 200 people have done this so far, and yet there is no response or change from the government so I have to think these people are dying for nothing.
What are the politics like in this region of India? Why has this fight been going on for decades? I think I'll have to revisit this after I do some research. I'll get back to you.