No let-up in stir

The agitation in support of Samaikyandhra continued in four districts in Rayalaseema region and nine districts in Andhra region unabated while the public transport came to a stand still for the second day as the RTC employees strike continued on Wednesday. All the government offices were closed down due to the indefinite strike of the NGOs. The Deputy Collectors in the Rayalaseema and Andhra region said that they would also join the stir shortly. A gazetted officer, Tahsildar of Valmikipuram in Chittoor district Kiran Kumar sat on a 48-hour fast in Valmikipuram in support of Samaikyandhra on Wednesday.

Two persons, one in Chittoor district and another in East Godavari district, committed suicide in support of Samaikyandhra on Wednesday. According to reports, Muthu (45) of M Bandapalli village in Putalapattu mandal of Chittoor district committed suicide by hanging in the early hours of Wednesday as he could not countenance the prospect of bifurcation of the state.

P Chittibabu of Mandapeta in East Godavari district committed suicide by jumping into Kakinada canal in support of Samaikyandhra. The TDP MLA from Guntur district, Dhulipala Narendra announced that he would launch fast under the slogan “Quit Sonia” from Thursday. Traffic was disrupted for several hours on the National Highway as the women organized a Rasta roko at Benz Circle in Vijayawada city on Wednesday. The Telugu Desam MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao announced that he would sit on indefinite fast to protect the rights of Samaikyandhra people.

In East Godavari, the indefinite fast of Vani, wife of Minister Thota Narasimhulu entered fifth day on Wednesday. Another Minister Viswaroop expressed his solidarity with fasting employees of the revenue department. In Rayalaseema districts, the agitation continued without any letup. RTC buses were confined to depots and all government offices were closed due to NGOs strike.