Left, YSRCP demand Railway Zone in Vizag
Visakhapatnam: Demanding the Centre for immediate announcement on Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters, activists from CPM, CPI, YSR Congress Party and several people’s organisations observed a novel protest by travelling in a passenger train from Visakhapatnam to Palasa in Srikakulam district on Monday.
Thousands of activists led by the senior leaders of the parties rushed to Visakhapatnam Railway Station raising slogans in favour of railway zone boarded Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train.
With the huge crowds thronging the railway station, the Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force tried to prevent them at the entry level. However, the activists have shown them their tickets and argued with the railway police why they are preventing them.
Speaking on the occasion, CPI senior leader J V Satyanarayana Murthy (Nani) said that the both BJP and TDP cheating the people of Andhra Pradesh by not implementing the listed promises in the AP Reorganisation Bill-2014. Both parties during their electioneering in 2014 assured the people of north coastal Andhra Pradesh that they would give exclusive railway zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters. The parties also listed the assurance in their 2014 elections manifesto. However, after coming to power, the BJP and TDP hoodwinked the people not announcing the railway zone, he pointed out.
YSRCP city president M Vijaya Prasad said the people of Andhra Pradesh were already woke up and observing the BJP and TDP on the sops listed in the AP Reorganisation Bill-2014. The rail yatra, dharnas, rallies and other protests have been taking up trying to open the eyes of the Central and state governments, he added.
The leaders including former minister Konathala Ramakrishna, CPM leader Gangarao, YSRCP leaders P Usha Kiran, Peethala Murthy Yadav, G Gowri, Railway Zone Sadhana Samithi president S Siva Shankar, CPM leader Lokanatham, CPI leader Murali and a large number of leaders from various people’s organisations were present in the rail yatra.