APNGOs firm on indefinite strike

Vijayawada: Leaders of the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association here on Saturday reiterated that they would go on indefinite strike from the mid-night of August 12 seeking withdrawal of the proposal to divide the State and form the Telangana State.

The APNGOs leaders met the Minister for Secondary Education, K P Saradhi, and legislator Malladi Vishnu and other leaders and requested them to quit their posts and join the Samaikyandhra agitation. The Minister and the legislator told the employees that they have already submitted their resignations to the party president and the Chief Minister but have to work to defeat any resolution that comes to the Assembly for its approval on Telangana issue. The Minister requested the NGOs to withdraw their indefinite strike call.

Later in the evening, the APNGOs State president, P Ashok Babu, said that several government employees’ unions have extended support for the strike and would join them from the morning of August 13. He said that they would continue the strike until the Central government gave an assurance on keeping the State united. “For the first time, the employees are going on indefinite strike for the cause of the people and the State. We are confident that we will be successful,” Ashok Babu said.