VJAC files complaint against VH

Criminal action demanded against MP for instigating Seemandhra agitators

Visakhapatnam: Samaikyandhra activists from all political parties and lawyers, professionals, intellectuals, student Joint Action Committees (JACs), APNGOs Association, RTC workers, auto-rickshaw workers, industrialists, IT companies, chemists, teachers, businessmen, voluntary organisations, stevedores, Customs House agents, petty vendors and private motor operators stepped up the agitation here on Sunday.

State convenor of Samaikyandhra Vidyardhi JAC Lagudu Govind and its student members took out a massive rally with the effigy of senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao from Gandhi statue on the Andhra University campus to the main gate on Sunday demanding unconditional apology for his provocative remarks which he had reportedly made against the Seemandhra employees working in Hyderabad. The activists burnt his effigy at the AU main gate and later lodged a complaint against him in the Three Town police station seeking criminal action for instigating Seemandhra agitators.

On this occasion, Mr Rama Naidu and Mr Amar said they would continue the fast till the Centre withdraws the ‘T’ decision or gives a specific assurance in this regard. The entire venue was decorated with party flags.

Private transport operators’ assurance

Leaders of Visakhapatnam district unit of APNGOs’ Association, after staging a protest at the Collectorate, organised a meeting with private motor transport operators seeking their support to the ongoing agitation. Association leaders Venkateswara Rao, K Eswara Rao and Gopala Krishna spoke with the private transport operators, who assured them of their support.

Relay fasts at AU

Andhra University Teaching, Non-teaching and Hostels’ Association members formed two separate JACs and were continuing their relay hunger strike near the Gandhi statue on the campus. Convenor Prof. K John alleged that the Telangana political leaders were provoking Seemandhra people with their derogatory statements. He demanded the Centre to keep the State united and maintain status quo failing which the agitation would be stepped up. By now, normal life has been paralysed in Seemandhra, they said. The activists in the fast camp raised slogans against TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the ‘T’ decision.

Lawyers on 48-hr fast

A large number of lawyers under the banner ‘Samaikyandhra State Samithi’, began a 48-hour relay hunger strike at the Gandhi statue near the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Sunday in which Visakha Bar Association former president Karri Adibabu and others participated. Raising slogans against the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and the Centre for the ‘hire and fire’ proposal of bifurcation of the State, the leaders demanded the UPA government to shelve the bifurcation proposal. Convenor of Uttarandhra Journalists’ Samithi Ramana Murty visited the camp and expressed solidarity.

Indefinite fast

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam MLA (Madugula) G Rama Naidu and Gudivada Amar, former corporator and son of former minister Gudivada Gurunadha Rao, began indefinite hunger strike near the GVMC Gandhi statue on Sunday. The leaders, who arrived at the spot amid a huge rally raising slogans against KCR and Sonia, began the fast. Party vice-president Bandaru Satyanarayana Murty, other senior leaders and Telugu Mahila leaders, including Vaka Satyavathi, were among those present with the fasting leaders.

Govt doctors

Members of AP Government Doctors’ Association and Government Nurses’ Association staged a protest in front of the King George Hospital (KGH) as part of the agitation and raised slogans demanding united Andhra.

Half-naked protest

Members of Sri Matha Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari Kalinga Vysya Samskshema Sangham, Kancharapalem, took out a rally from the Old Jail Road to the new flyover raising slogans in favour of united Andhra Pradesh. They observed a ‘half-naked’ protest demanding the Centre to keep the State united.