United AP movement described as second struggle for freedom

Tirupati: Professors and students of Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) at Tirupati described the ongoing Samaikyandhra agitation as the beginning of the second independence struggle. The professors and non-teaching staff of SVU participated in the Independence Day celebrations held on the premises of the administrative building and later they visited the relay hunger strike camp at the main entrance and expressed their solidarity.

Speaking to The Hans India, Prof. N Krishna Reddy, of Archeology department, said the first independence struggle was for the liberation from colonial rule. But the ongoing Samaikyandhra agitation across Seemandhra region is a struggle for another kind of independence. Lakhs of people are voluntarily participating in these agitations despite Independence Day celebrations, he added.

Samaikyandhra JAC convener Prof. Srikanth Reddy said that the elected leaders were playing with the lives of Seemandhras.

APNGOs accost minister Galla
APNGO leaders at Chittoor participated in the Independence Day celebrations held in the Parade Grounds on Thursday attended by Minister Galla Aruna Kumari. After the celebrations they met the minister and demanded her resignation. The minister responded that she is in favour of Samaikyandhra and already handed over her resignation to the Chief Minister and she strongly felt that there is no need to submit her resignation in the Speaker’s Format.

Novel protest by students
Students of several schools, in a novel protest, drew the slogan ‘Jai Samaikyandhra’ in Telugu on their bodies and raised slogans at Tirupati Municipal Officer Circle. Activists of Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi displayed flexi boards mocking elected representatives and union ministers Chiranjeevi, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Panabaka Lakshmi, Killi Kriparani, Pallam Raju, Purandheswari, JD Seelam and TTD chairman Kanumuri Bapiraju as opportunistic. The poster also mocked them for participating in Independence Day celebrations even after betraying Seemandhras by continuing in their posts.

Tricolour, Samaikyandhra flags hoisted in protest
Samaikyandhra JAC staged a protest in Srikalahasti on Thursday at Pelli Mandapam by hoisting the national flag and Samaikyandhra flag simultaneously. They opposed the division of the State and demanded a unified AP. Symbolic of the effect of the division of the State on education and employment opportunities of students and youth, the members of the JAC enacted ‘suicide by hanging’ by three youth.

Political leaders Kola Anand (Congress), Biyyapu Madhusudhan Reddy (YSRCP) and MSO Anjur Srinivasulu and a few youth took part in the protest. Srikalahasti temple Executive Officer A Sriramachandra Murthy hoisted the national flag at temple premises on Independence Day.

Tirupati legislator Bhumana Karunakar Reddy staged a novel protest here at YSRCP’s office on Thursday. After hoisting the national flag he condemned the ruling Congress party announcing the division of the State. He said that to make her son Rahul Gandhi Prime Minister, AICC chief Sonia Gandhi provided Statehood for Telangana region. Symbolic of the injustice to people of Seemandhra regions, he displayed chilli powder packets stating that Sonia Gandhi sprayed chilli powder into the eyes of Seemandhras by dividing the state.

He packed the chilli powder into small sachets and distributed them to the people and supporters of Samaikyandhra stating that it is a gift from Sonia Gandhi for making her son the prime minister. Later, he distributed these packets to Samaikyandhra activists at SAPS fasting camp near Municipal Officer Circle.