Electricity staff to join agitation�

Strike notice to be served tomorrow

Visakhapatnam: Angry but peaceful protests, including rasta rokos, road blocks, Vanta-Varpu, dharnas and bike rallies, against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh continued in the city on Wednesday. Activists and leaders of the ruling Congress, TDP, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), student organisations, NGOs’ Union, AP Government Doctors’ Union, AP Government Nurses’ Association, Private Merchants’ Association came onto the roads demanding united State.

Vidyut Employees’ JAC formed
Employees and officials formed ‘Samaikyandhra Vidyut Employees’ (SAVE) Joint Action Committee with 25 members, including R Saibaba as chairman and Polaki Srinivasa Rao as convenor. The electricity employees of Vizag Circle and the APEPDCL were observing relay hunger strike at the corporate office, besides organising rasta roko, Vanta-Varpu and bike rallies favouring Samaikyandhra. Mr Srinivasa Rao told The Hans India on Wednesday that they would observe these protests up to August 16 in all districts.

A strike notice would be served on the Energy Secretary, Chairman and Managing Director of Transco, Managing Director of APGenco and other officials concerned on August 16 in Hyderabad. The future course of action would be finalised in Hyderabad after serving the notice, Mr Srinivasa Rao said adding that the action plan was being drawn up so as not to severely affect consumer service. If the Centre did not withdraw its unilateral ‘T’ decision, they would stop all services, including emergency and production, he threatened.

Relay fasts continue
Members of the Andhra University JAC, AU Coordination Committee and AU Ikya Vidhyardhi Front were continuing their relay hunger strike near the Gandhi statue on the campus. The members, raising slogans against TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, demanded the Central government to withdraw the ‘T’ decision immediately. The leaders thanked the general public who extended full cooperation to the bandh on Tuesday. Drumbeats and sloganeering against bifurcation echoed throughout the campus.

Meanwhile, activists of the Congress, TDP and the YSRCP, holding party flags and raising slogans, took out bike rallies in the city. At some places like Jagadamba Junction, they organised human chains.

‘Say No to T’ rally
A large number of journalists working in local small newspapers, under the banner of ‘Visakha Local Newspaper Working Journalists Welfare Society’ took out a ‘Say No to T’ motorcycle rally from the VJF Press Club to Jagadamba Junction raising slogans against KCR and Sonia Gandhi. The rally was led by society president MKM Mohan Rao and honorary president Gantla Sreenubabu.

North Andhra scribes’ rally
Members of S Rayavaram mandal wing of Uttarandhra Journalists’ Steering Committee took out a Samaikyandhra rally at Addaroad of S Rayavaram mandal on Wednesday and later formed a human chain on National Highway 16 demanding the Central government to withdraw its ‘T’ decision.

Activists and leaders of S Rayavaram mandal Telugu Desam wing also organised a ‘Maha Dharna’ on National Highway 16 demanding Samaikyandhra. They also organised ‘Vanta-Varpu’ on the road, paralysing vehicular traffic for over two hours.

Fisherwomen join protest
Meanwhile, a large number of fisherwomen from S Rayavaram mandal, carrying empty fish baskets, joined the protest and sat on the main road demanding united Andhra Pradesh. Farmers from the mandal, along with bullock carts, observed a protest on the road raising slogans favouring Samaikyandhra. Former minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murty, TDP rural district president G Rama Naidu, Lalam Kasinaidu, D Siva and Pedireddy Srinu were present.
RTC strike goes on

Normal life was thrown out of gear in north coastal Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Vizag, with RTC buses being confined to the depots following the indefinite strike by members of both Employees’ Union and the National Mazdoor Union (NMU).

All the RTC depots in the city and the main Dwaraka Bus Station wore a deserted look. Marriage parties and long distance travellers were forced to approach private vehicles to reach their destinations. The NMU members organised a road blockade on the National Highway at Maddilapalem City Depot on Wednesday raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra.

NRI on indefinite fast in Paderu
An NRI engineer and convenor of Samaikyandhra Manyam JAC, Lokula Gandhi, launched an indefinite fast at the NGO Home, Paderu, on Wednesday demanding united Andhra Pradesh. He said he was ready to sacrifice his life for Samaikyandhra and asked the public to voluntarily participate in the agitation. He said bifurcation of the State was not acceptable. Members of the TDP, Motor Workers’ Union and Gold Merchants’ Association took out a huge rally demanding Samaikyandhra. All shops and establishments and hotels were closed.