Traders take out rally for Samaikyandhra

Vijayawada: The Vijayawada Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), in association with Retail and Wholesale Merchants Association and Cloth Merchants Association, Vijayawada organised a rally from Potti Sriramulu statue to Sub Collector office in the city on Saturday.

Local MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, legislator Vellampalli Srinivas, Telugu Desam leaders Kesineni Srinivas, Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and others extended support to the rally. The VCCI president Vellampalli Ramachandra Rao addressing the gathering said that Congress high command had taken the decision of State bifurcation without caring for the people of Seemandhra.

He said that Samaikyandhra agitation was being spearheaded by common people. Hyderabad is the heart of the State and people from various regions had developed it for over six decades. Telangana leaders have no right to demand us to leave Telangana. This is not at all fair and we have to show our unity and fight until the UPA Government takes back its decision on Telangana, he said.

Hamali Mutha Workers Union president Meru Gurava reddy said that unity of Telugu people was needed for the unity of State. He called upon the people to continue the agitation till the Congress Government takes back its decision on Telangana. Shop owners, workers, commercial auto workers, rickshaw pullers and others participated in the rally.

Congress and TDPleaders clash

Congress legislator Vellampalli Srinivas and TD leader Kesineni Nani were seen engaged in a bitter argument in the rally. The trouble began when some Congress leaders argued that Telugu Desam has no right to agitate for Samaikyandhra as their party had earlier submitted a letter to Union Home Minister supporting Telanagana. Both the leaders had a verbal clash, followed by a scuffle between both the groups. Police entered the scene and scattered both the groups.