I-Day peaceful in Seemandhra

The Independence Day celebrations in agitation hit Andhra and Rayalaseema districts passed off peacefully without any major incident. Several Ministers unfurled national flags in their district head quarters and narrated the welfare schemes implemented by the government in the last four years. Government employees and students in those districts, whose indefinite strike entered the third day Thursday, resumed protests after taking part in the I-Day celebrations. Some employees stayed away from official celebrations and instead held their own ceremonies.

In Anantapur, the YSR CP MLA Gurunadh Reddy protested against restrictions on entry of common people to the function while the Minister for Revenue Raghuveera Reddy was unfurling the national flag. The police intervened and pacified him.

YSCP MLA tries to disrupt minister's I-Day speech
Anantapur: YSR Congress MLA Gurunadh Reddy on Thursday tried to disrupt the speech of Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy during the Independence Day function. The minister, after hoisting the national flag at the Police Parade ground, was delivering his speech when Gurunadh Reddy got up from his seat and shouted that common man was not allowed to participate in such celebrations.

He then sat on the ground near the stage as a mark of protest. Even as the minister continued his speech, police intervened and convinced the MLA to call off his protest. As the police did not allow common people to enter Parade Grounds to witness the function as they suspected that the agitators might infiltrate and create trouble.