Activists lay siege to Panabaka’s house

Nellore: Large number of electricity employees and Samaikyandhra activists laid siege to the house of Union Minister for State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi here on Thursday demanding the leader to resign from her post in support of unified Andhra Pradesh movement.

Speaking to the newsmen, they alleged that the Union Minister was only worrying about her post and was least bothered about people’s plight in Seemandhra districts. The activist holding Samaikyandhra flags raised slogans against UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao. Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, pro-Samaikyandhra Pradesh protests by employees, students, traders and members of various organizations entered 29th day on Thursday. The police foiled YSRCP leader Penchalaiah’s hunger strike at Guduru and shifted him to a hospital. Government teachers stayed away from duties and took out a bike rally in the town.

Municipal employees and Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) staff staged a novel protest by holding chairs upside down above their heads at Nellore. RTC employees held Vanta Varpu programme at Gandhi Bomma centre and staged half-naked protest.

Relay hunger strikes by employees, lawyers and leaders of YSRCP at various places continued. RTC buses continued to remain in depots across the district and various government offices witnessed no activity as the employees were on strike opposing State division. The members of the Vikrama Simhapuri Employees’ JAC continued their relay hunger strike at the VRC Centre.