Stones pelted at Chiru

• S Testing time during tour of flood-hit areas in Srikakulam
• Samaikyandhra agitators and students raise slogans, protest
• Minister’s address to farmers interrupted

Samaikyandhra agitators resorted to pelting of ‘kankar’ (small stones) and slogan-shouting at Barada in Amudalavalasa mandal here when Union Minister K Chiranjeevi visited the village to assess the crop loss caused by the recent heavy floods and sought to interact with distressed farmers. His security personnel, however, provided cover from the missiles.

Earlier, the agitators and a section of the gathering raised ‘Jai Samaikyandhra’ slogans, interrupting the Minister’s speech and causing embarrassment to him. Later, a tense atmosphere developed at the venue. A large number of students from Rajam town, who had played a leading role in the Samaikyandhra agitation, rushed to GMR Varalakshmi-CARE Hospital upon learning about Chiranjeevi’s visit there in the afternoon. They raised ‘Samaikyandhra’ slogans and demanded his resignation.

They also shouted anti-Botcha Satyanarayana (‘Botcha down down’) slogans while calling upon the Seemandhra Ministers to immediately resign from their positions. A section of the gathering at the hospital pelted stones at Chiranjeevi, as he was leaving the hospital. The police became alert and prevented the situation from getting out of control. They escorted the Minister to safety.

The incident assumes importance as the area is part of the constituency represented by State Minister Kondru Murali.