All sections join hands to intensify agitation

• Govt offices closed in Ongole
• Gazetted officers in Nellore join strike
• HPCL blast impacts agitation in Visakhapatnam

Even as the Samaikyandhra agitation was intensified in the Seemandhra region on Saturday by various sections of the people, who organised dharnas, ‘rasta roko’ demonstrations, blocking of the national highways, the Audit Employees’ Association extended support to Sangareddy legislator Jagga Reddy, a staunch integrationist, by sitting on a dharna at NTR Circle in Kurnool. They sported Jagga Reddy masks. The agitators laid siege to the house of Union minister Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy. The YSRCP activists organised a bandh in the town to protest the police action in forcing the party leader Y S Vijayamma to end her fast. Several Teachers’ organisations commenced indefinite strike.

Employees of the Animal Husbandry department organised a mock funeral procession of AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and burnt his effigy, blaming him for the State’s division. The Commercial Taxes staff blind-folded themselves, alleging that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was unmoved by the raging Samaikyandhra agitation. Doctors and nurses while raising pro-AP slogans formed a human chain in NTR Colony, under the aegis of Medical JAC. Folk artists dressed as Katta Brahmana demonstrated at NTR Circle. While in Ongole the government offices remained closed, gazette officers in Nellore joined the strike.The HPCL blast had its impact on the agitation in Visakhapatnam.

Residents on fast

Srikakulam: Residents of Wards 7 and 8 under the auspices of Gandhi Yuvajana Sangham began relay fasts, after garlanding Gandhiji’s portrait. Farmers of the rythu bazaar and traders voluntarily organised a bandh and later took out a rally, demanding Hyderabad as the joint capital. The Audit department staff too held a rally. In Pathapatnam at least 120 government employees donated their blood in protest against the creation of Telangana.

Govt. offices closed

Ongole: The Samaikyandhra agitation entered the 25th day. NGOs continued their strike on its 12th day, resulting in shutdown of the government offices. The district court staff took out a rally tying black ribbons across their mouths and played games on the road at the Church Centre. Students staged a demonstration on the Ongole-Kurnool bypass road, leading to a massive traffic blockade.

Rally by girl students

Bhimavaram: About 1,000 girl students dressed as Alluri Sitarama Raju held a rally followed by a meeting. The agitators organised fasts, ‘rasta roko’ demonstrations and bandhs. In Narsapur, engineering students organised blood donation at local busstand.

Gazetted officer join strike

Nellore: Gazetted officers went on strike leading to closure of government offices. Teachers under the Teachers and Employees’ JAC held a massive rally from the DEO’s office to the collectorate. Students of Bens private educational institutions organised a demonstration. Teachers took out a pro-Samaikyandhra rally.

Employees form JACs

Anantapur: Members of the Employees’ JAC resorted to begging while participating in a rally. Teachers, NGOs, employees of RTC, Revenue, Water works, Education and Health departments formed separate Joint Action Committees. Tension prevailed in Puttaparti when the police disrupted the fast of YSRCP leader Dr. Harikrishna and forcibly admitted him in the government hospital. Chittoor: Hijras launched indefinite fast, while visually challenged participated in a huge rally.

220-foot flexi displayed

Rajhmundry: Owners of the Flexi Managements’ Association took out a rally displaying a 220-foot flexi with ‘Samaikyandhra Vardhillali’ slogan. It had photographs of Telugu Talli and Potti Sriramulu and an image of a train with 23 coaches, to create awareness on the importance of 23 districts. Municipal employees protested by demonstrating daredevil skills, using sticks and swords to cut bananas and other fruits placed on the stomachs of others. They smashed coconuts with bare hands. Members of the Rajahmundry Stage Artistes’ Association took out a huge rally dressed as Katta Brahmana, Alluri Seetaramaraju, Telugu Talli and ‘witch doctor’.

Scribes wash cars

Kakinada: Journalists, under the aegis of Journalists’ JAC washed cars of officials at the Collector’s bungalow. Initially, they washed the cars of the RDO and the Joint Collector and placed flowers on their ears. A CD ‘Samaikyandra Udyamamlo Memu Saitham’, compiled by Master Preetham, was unveiled. Ibrahimpatnam: Employees of the Narla Tatarao Power Station and contractors organised rallies and formed human chains.

‘Praja ballot’ held

Vizianagaram: The District JAC intensified the agitation by holding a ‘praja ballot’ programme at the collectorate. RTC staff staged a half-naked demonstration, begged on the road and formed a human chain.

Blast impacts agitation

Visakhapatnam: Friday’s HPCL blast which took a toll of eight lives impacted the Seemandhra agitation in the City. The agitators convey their condolences to the victims’ bereaved families. The government employees joined the rescue and relief operations at the blast site. In the relay hunger-strike camp organised by the City Congress Committee near GVMC, legislator Panchakarla Rameshbabu, City Congress president Behra Bhaskara Rao took part.