Springtide of protests

• ‘Roar of Simhapuri Simha Garjana’ rattles Nellore;
• Deafening ‘Laksha Janagala Sagara Ghosha’ in Kakinada;
• ‘Lakshagala Samaikya Simha Garjana’ reverberates in Tenali;
• ‘Samaikyandhra Polikeka’ awakens Proddatur’;
• ’Laksha Gala Ghosha’ transforms Tadipatri
• Electricity Dept employees lay siege to houses of Kotla, TGV
• AJC foresees water woes
• Teachers’ Day celebrations on main roads

Hyderabad: Mass gatherings in which lakhs of people took part, dharnas, demonstrations and myriad other manifestations of mounting public anger marked Day 36 of the Samaikyandhra agitation in the Seemandhra districts on Thursday. The events included ‘Simhapuri Simha Garjana’ in Nellore, ‘Laksha Janagala Sagara Ghosha’ in Kakinada, ‘Samaikyandhra Polikeka’ in Proddatur (Kadapa district), ‘Laksha Gala Ghosha’ in Tadipatri, (Anantapur) and ‘Lakshagala Samaikya Simha Garjana’ in Tenali.

Ghazal singer Srinivas entertained the audience with his songs and conversations. Electricity Department employees laid siege to the house of Union Minister Kotla Jayasuryaprakash Reddy and State Minister T G Venkatesh in Kurnool, demanding their resignations backing Samaikyandhra. Various protest programmes continued during the agitation in Mangalagiri, Rajahmundry and Anakapalle.

Water problems

Nellore: Additional Joint Collector Penchala Reddy said there could be problems relating to drinking and irrigation water should the State be divided. He wanted the CWC decision to be withdrawn. There was good response to the ‘Simhapuri Garjana’ at A C Subba Reddy Stadium, with about a lakh students, employees and workers joining. Various cultural programmes presented by the agitators attracted the gathering.

Cultural items on unity

Kakinada: A large number of Samaikyandhra supporters took part in the ‘Laksha Jana Gala Ghosha’. Cultural items highlighting the need for preserving the State’s unity as the theme caught the attention of the crowd.

‘Polikeka’ and ‘Gurupujostavam’

Proddtur: In the ‘Samaikyandhra Polikeka’ programme at Annie Besant Municipal High School, which coincided with the ‘Gurupujostavam’ (Teachers Day), there were many students, teachers and parents, along with representatives of various JACs, people’s organisations and non-government agencies and integrationists. The ground reverberated with slogans for a united State.

Agitators gather

Vijayawada: Lakhs of students of both government and private schools and agitators participated in the ‘Lakshagalarchana’ at Challapalli. The students organised ‘vanta-varpu’ on the main road.

Protest before Ministers’ houses

Kurnool: Electricity employees laid siege to the houses of Union Minister Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy and State Minister T G Venkatesh, after taking out a two-wheeler rally from Vidyuth Bhavan to Rajiv Vihar centre. While teachers held a rally, proclainer drivers took part in a demonstration with vehicles.

Staff wear yellow saris

Tirupati: Members of the Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samiti and Tirupati JAC organised a two-wheeler rally. Representatives of private educational institutions, with buses, held a demonstration. NGOs formed a human chain at Ambedkar Circle. The staff of Sri Padmavati Women’s University staged a protest, wearing yellow saris.

Boycott by jute mill workers

Eluru: Jute mill staff in the town boycotted work in support of Samaikyandhra and staged a sit-in.

Huge rally

Rajahmundry: Students of various schools and colleges took out a huge rally. They formed a human chain at ‘Y’ Junction and held a demonstration. Girl students played ‘Kolatam’.

Unity pledge

Anantapur: Samaikyandhra supporters took part in a massive rally, while members of JACTO held a unique protest by covering their ears with hands while squatting. The agitators took a pledge to ensure the State’s unity.

Teachers’ Day on road

Ongole: Several educational institutions remained closed, even as bandh continued in Addanki and Kanigiri. Sivannarayana, MEO, went on fast. In Podili, students participated in the Teachers’ Day celebrations. The agitators organised a ‘rasta roko’ on the National Highway in Martur.