United AP agitation continues

Srikakulam: Faculty members of Agriculture University took out a huge rally in favour of Samaikyandhra here on Friday. When they reached the statue of Potti Sreeramulu near the old bus stand they formed a human chain and later they garlanded the statue and paid homage. Zilla Parishad employees also took out a huge rally. They gathered at the Seven Roads Junction, formed a human chain and protested by performing dances.

Members of Rice Millers Association also took out a huge rally from the Association building to Day and Night Junction. They garlanded the statue of Potti Sreeramulu and paid homage. The agitators honoured some artistes from Karimnagar in Telangana who joined the stir by playing on their instruments. On this occasion, several speakers said that if the State is divided Seemandhra area will stand to lose. The farming community will face miseries due to possible water wars. They pledged to intensify the agitation if the State is divided.

A huge human chain up to 178 km will be formed in the district under the auspices of the APNGOs on Saturday, in favour of Samaikyandhra. At a press conference at the NGOs office here on Friday, APNGOA leaders said that the human chain will begin at Itchapuram on the Andhra Odisha borders and will be formed up to Pydi Bheemaram on the outskirts of the district. While the human chain will cover the whole district, arrangements like drinking water and ambulances will be made on the way.

The human chain will be formed only on the national highway. Steps will be taken to see that the flow of traffic is not affected, they said. For this, a supervisor will be positioned at every 200 mt distance. The NGO leaders urged everyone to participate in the programme voluntarily. Samaikyandhra JAC called for a bandh on Saturday in support of the human chain.

Former minister Dharmana Prasad Rao was heckled at Samaikya Samaranadam, a huge public meeting that was organised at the local NTR Municipal Grounds here on Friday. He had to stop his speech and got in to a verbal duel with the agitators before police brought the situation under control.

The meeting organised by Samaikynandhra Forum began in a grand manner. A huge gathering of political leaders, agitators, JAC leader and people attended. Artistes sang songs and performed dances in favour of Samaikyandhra. Meanwhile, the public who raised slogans against the leaders at the start of the meet, constantly interrupted Dharmana’s speech. They disrupted the meeting with slogans like ‘Sonia down down’. They demanded the resignation of Dharmana. He tried to pacify the agitators but to no avail. With this he had to stop his speech. The furious former minister and his associates got down to a verbal duel with the agitators. Police intervened and pacified them.

Later, Dharmana said that it is important for MPs and MLAs to stay in power to voice their opinions in Parliament and even to vote against the division Bill when it is introduced. He said that they had made all efforts to oppose the Bill Constitutionally. Stating that any party that works against the wishes of the people will have no future, he demanded clarity from TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu regarding the issue. How far is writing a letter in favour of Telangana on one hand and then organising ‘Atmagaurava Sabha’ justified, he questioned.

Former minister and TDP leader Gunda Appala Suryanarayana said it was merely a party opinion to divide the State and not approved constitutionally. “So there is a chance of voting against it,” he said. Etcherla MLA Meesala Neelakantam, Amudalavalasa MLA Boddepalli Satyavathi, former Zilla Parishad chairman Etcherla Suryanarayana, YSRCP Varudu Kalyani, Employees and all peoples’ JAC leaders participated.