Minister leads rally for Samaikyandhra

Vizianagaram: Samakyandhra activists targeted Minister for Forests Satrucherla Vijayaramaraju who led a motorcycle rally from Pathapatnam in Srikakulam district to Parvathipuram near here on Friday. While he faced the ire of teachers at Palakonda, an unidentified activist threw a slipper at him at Kothavalasa near Parvathipuram.

Meanwhile, a two-day bandh was observed in the district wherein shops, petrol bunks and Central government offices remained closed in support of Samaikyandhra. The activists brought traffic to a standstill at several places in the district with their protests.

Highways including NH 43 at Gajapathinagaram were blocked. Traffic was held up to 10 km distance. At Ramabhadrapuram the activists performed Vanta Varpu. Central offices were mobbed at Saluru. A total bandh was observed at Bobbili, S Kota, Kothavalasa and L Kota. There was scuffle between Congress workers and teachers at Cheepurupalli.

MLA mobbed: Samaikyandhra activists mobbed MLA Savarapu Jayamani at Belagam in Paravathipuram and demanded her resignation. The activists and Congress workers exchanged a verbal duel in this regard. The MLA who came to attend the motorcycle rally by the Congress workers was forced to turn back.

Meanwhile, Minister Satrucherla, who addressed a meeting after the humiliation by Samaikyandhra supporters, said that when the Telangana Bill is tabled in the next Assembly session, he would oppose it. Speaking on resignations, he said that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy would be the first one to resign in case it is necessary. The others would follow suit, he said.