JP begins Telugu Tejam Yatra

• Faces ire of people for not supporting Samaikyandhra stir
• He says Lok Satta will not change its stance region-wise

Kurnool: The Telugu Tejam Yatra launched by the Lok Satta Party chief Jayaprakash Narayan on Saturday faced the wrath of Samiakyandhra protesters here. They alleged that he was speaking against the united Andhra Pradesh cause. They demanded that he raise the slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra. However, Jayaprakash refused to raise slogans, stating that the LSP would not shift its stance region-wise.

They laid siege to the government guest house where he was staying and demanded an explanation of his comments. He denied calling them names. However, the agitators demanded an apology from him. DSP Ramana Kumar pacified the agitators and sent them away. JP said that he could understand the anxiety of the integrationists. He said that the LSP was committed to the overall development of the Telugu people. Earlier, Narayan launched the Telugu Tejam Yatra at Kondareddy Buruju with a view to forging amity among people of all regions.

Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, he said that protests and bandhs were hindering development. “People should think of long-term benefits instead of short-term gains,” he said. The former IAS officer said that the people should think of moving ahead to develop the State whatever the decision taken regarding the division of the state.

He squarely blamed the leaders for instilling hatred between the regions. He said that the Central government could take a decision on division only because of the divisions among the people in the name of regions. “We hardly come across the leaders who are committed to values,” he lamented. The hatred and the differences among the people would only be beneficial to the politicians but not to them. “It is not proper to stop public services in the name of bandhs or strikes,” he opined.

The LSP leader said that it was everyone’s right in a democracy to express their opinion by way of protest. However, what had been achieved by way of protests and demonstrations, he asked. He suggested that the employees put on black badges and work more to register their protest.

The LSP chief said the Rayalaseema was the most backward region in the united Andhra Pradesh, and demanded a special package for its development. When urged by the people to raise slogans in favour of the united State, he turned down their request, stating that LSP was not a party which would change its stance from one region to the other.