Maha Dharna by NGOs, RTC unions

• Vidyut Employees’ JAC threatens to cut power supply to houses of Union Ministers;
• TDP activists observe unique ‘rolling protest’ on GVMC main road

Visakhapatnam: ‘Maha Dharna’ observed by district unit of AP NGOs’ Association and members of RTC Unions---National Mazdoor Union and Employees’ Union---at the Collectorate, rocked the on-going Samaikyandhra agitation with their sloganeering and with different forms of protests while relay hunger strikes by TDP, Congress and advocates continued in the city on Thursday demanding united Andhra Pradesh.

Vidyut Employees’ JAC: The leaders of Vidyut Employees’ JAC as part of their unified Andhra protest threatened that they would cut power supply to the residences of Union Ministers in Seemandhra from Friday if they fail to resign and join the stir.

City Congress Committee: As part of the relay fast taken up by the City Congress Committee, members of Congress Minority Wing participated in the fast on Thursday at the Gandhi statue near the GVMC, raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra under the leadership of Sk Bhasha, Ali Shinka, Abeeda and Annaruddin.

The Muslim brethren first performed prayer to the Lord seeking blessings in support of united Andhra Pradesh. Among others, City Congress president Behra Bhaskara Rao, City Mahila Congress president Pedada Ramani Kumari, former corporator K Vengala Rao, Banala Sreenu, Gampa Govind and others extended support to the fasting Muslim brethren at the camp.

Telugu Desam Party: A large number of activists and leaders of urban unit of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by its president Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar resorted to an innovative ‘rolling protest’ in the hot sun on the GVMC main road demanding the Centre to roll back its proposal of bifurcating the State. They later performed ‘Sonia Bhajan’ programme in front of Dr B R Ambedkar statue at the LIC Square before sitting on relay fast at the Gandhi statue near the GVMC with the entire area reverberating with protests and slogans.

YSRCP: Activists and leaders of YSR Congress under the leadership of party Visakha North Assembly segment in-charge GV Ravi Raju began relay fast at Gurudwara on Thursday. Among others N Nageswara Rao and other leaders participated. Asha workers’ rally: As part of their support to the united Andhra agitation, members of Visakhapatnam Asha Workers’ Union took out a huge rally from the RTC Complex to Jagadamba raising slogans and holding Samaikyandhra placards.

Visakhapatnam Bar Association: Members of Visakhapatnam Bar Association continued their relay fast on Thursday in front of the district court premises in which all the Judicial Department employees also participated. The Association leaders in their address demanded all Seemandhra Union Ministers to resign and join the stir.

The angry activists later blocked the busy road for over an hour paralysing vehicular traffic. Agitation in Paderu Agency picks up: The Samiakyandhra agitation picked up in the Visakha Agency area, Paderu, with a huge number of activists of YSR Congress party, led by party in-charge Chokkakula Venkata Rao took out a rally on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chokkakula said during the vote bank loss in Telangana area, party president Jaganmohan Reddy began indefinite fast even in jail and urged all sections to support the agitation.

Among others G Eswari, Geetha, Vanjangi Kantamma, former minister M Balaraju, SV Ramana, P Gangayya Dora, MV Ganga Raju and Lakshmi Kondamma spoke. Meanwhile, members of Employees, Teachers and Workers’ JAC began relay fast in Paderu on Thursday and observed vanta-varpu on the main road paralysing traffic in which general public too participated. Members of Paderu Tailors’ Association took out a rally covering all junctions in Paderu demanding unified Andhra Pradesh.