Protests galore for united AP

Visakhapatnam: Angry protests and demonstrations in various forms by the integrationists of all government and private organisations demanding united Andhra Pradesh picked up in the city on Sunday. Employees of Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation Limited (APSHCL) took out an impressive motorcycle rally from Siripuram to Collectorate covering Andhra University, Jagadamba junction, GVMC Gandhi statue and Maddilapalem raising slogans in favour of unified Andhra on Sunday. APSHCL employees’ JAC chairman DP Margaret and president Vinayaka Rao extended full support to Andhra University Aiakya Vidyardhi Front where relay hunger strike was going on. Ms Margaret, asked all sections to voluntarily participate in the protests so that the Centre will bend.

Other leaders like Vinayaka Rao and Eswara Rao alleged that some vested interests were working behind the present chaos and said all those participating in the agitation themselves are the leaders to take the stir ahead. They said that NGO leaders were going to New Delhi to meet political leaders on August 26, 27 and 28 to raise their voice for unified Andhra Pradesh.

Former mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao, MLA Dr Malla Vijay Prasad and City Congress President Behra Bhaskara Rao began relay hunger strike at Gandhi statue near the GVMC on Sunday.

The activists raised slogans opposing bifurcation of the State adding that development would only possible when the State is united. State convenor of Samaikyandhra Vidyardhi JAC Lagudu Govind, State Chairman of Samaikyandhra Student JAC Areti Mahesh and activists performed ‘mock last rites’ (Pinda Pradanam) to the Seemandhra Union Ministers Y Kishorechandra Deo, Chiranjeevi, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, MM Pallam Raju, Dr D Purandeswari, Panabaka Lakshmi, J D Seelam and Dr Killi Kruparani on the Rama Krishna Beach on Sunday demanding them to resign and support the agitation without bowing to the pressure of the CWC or the UPA.

Members of local Walkers’ Clubs took out a procession raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra covering important junctions in the city on Sunday. The leaders stating that all Telugu speaking people are one and the entire State is one, demanded the CWC to roll back its proposal to bifurcate the State.

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Contractors’ Association (GVMCCA) served a notice on the Civic Chief M V Satyanarayana stating that they will strike work including switching street lights on and off for three hours on Tuesday in support of Samaikyandhra. Association general secretary OSR Chowdary said they would begin the protest from Monday with relay hunger strike at the Gandhi statue near the GVMC which includes vanta-varpu, candle light rally, human chain and bike rally.

Leaders of Andhra University Iaikya Vidhardhi Front Syamsunder Naidu, Syamsunder Mala and others continued their relay hunger strike at the camp on the AU campus on Sunday and many organizations were visiting to extend support. A batch of protestors continued their relay fast at another fast camp by the AU Hostel Employees’ Association.

Members of Samaikyandhra Vidyut Employees’ JAC resorted to vanta-varpu with a sloganeering of Samaikyandhra in front of the Superintending Engineer’s office near Hotel Green Park on Sunday in which a huge number of people participated. Activists of NGOs’ association, Government Doctors’ Association and Government Nurses’ Association too continued their angry protests and demonstrations at the Collectorate and the KGH on Sunday.