Rain, I-Day celebrations do not hinder agitators

Employees, students take out rallies for united AP

Nellore: Despite heavy rains, members of Employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) and students took out rallies and raised slogans against the ministers as a part of the movement for a united Andhra Pradesh here on Thursday. The agitators marched in the streets demanding a united State. As the agitation entered the third day on Thursday, buses were confined to the depots. Student JAC leaders Krishna Yadav, Prasad, Tirumala, Jagan, Raju and Sravan led the agitation, each through a different route from 10 am up till evening.

They performed Palabhishekam to the statue of Potti Sreeramulu at Atmakur Bus Stand and stopped the buses there. They made the passengers get down from the bus and sent them back. They organised a rasta roko and blocked the traffic. Another team of students stopped buses at Nellore RTC depot by making the passengers get down. They later staged dharna on the nearby GNT Road. Members of the workers’ unions joined them in stopping the buses.

All the students then joined the relay hunger strike by APNGOs at the Collectorate. The students and NGO leaders raised anti-government slogans and demanded that the move to divide the State should be stopped. They demanded Seemandhra ministers to join the non-cooperation movement or face the consequences. The students and members of Employees’ JAC criticised the ministers for participating in the flag hoisting celebrations.

NGOs association leader Choppa Ravinder Babu called upon all to be prepared for another round of the movement.
Student JAC leader Krishna Yadav warned the ministers and MLAs of attacks if they do not resign from their posts and join the agitation. Minorities staged a huge demonstration in favour of Samaikyandhra and against the division of the State. Members of employees, teachers and students JACs took out rallies in Gudur, Kavali, Udayagiri, Atmakur, Venkatgiri, Ravuru, Poddalakuru, Naidupet, Sullurupet, Kovvur and Buchireddypalem. Members of Teachers’ JAC took out a huge motorcycle rally at Kaligiri. RTC workers stopped buses at Udayagiri.

Stir impacts I-Day fete

Kadapa: For the first time the Independence Day celebrations were impacted due to the Samaikyandhra agitations in Kadapa district. The celebrations and the agitations were held side by side. However, the employees, despite participating in the agitation, attended the celebrations here on Thursday. RTC buses continued to be confined to the depots.

The fast unto death of YSRCP leader and MLA Srikanth Reddy and former mayor Ravindranath Reddy reached the fourth day. Teachers and JAC leaders continued their hunger strike on the 16th day also. Cable operators of Kadapa city held a protest rally. Sonia Gandhi effigy was burnt at several places. Local MLA Akepati Amarnath Reddy in Rajampet and MLA Koramutla Srinivasulu in Railway Kodur started fast unto death on Thursday in support of Samaikyandhra.

Meanwhile, hunger strikes, fast unto deaths and protests continued in the district despite rain. Supporting the protests of JAC, leaders of TDP, YSRCP and Congress took part in the agitation. Rallies and protests took place at several places in the district.