AU non-teaching staff to strike work

Vegetable farmers of all Rythu Bazaars observe bandh

Visakhapatnam: Samaikyandhra agitation was continuing with the same commitment and tempo in spite of all sections of people suffering a lot as work was totally affected at the Municipal Corporation, other municipalities, Mandal Revenue Offices, Collectorate, courts, cooperative sector, APEPDCL, government hospitals and public transport for the last 42 days in the city.

Non-teaching staff to join movement

Andhra University Non-Teaching Employees’ Union president Botta Ramachander and other office-bearers had already served a notice on the varsity authorities stating that all employees, except those in the essential services, would strike work from Wednesday opposing the Centre’s move to bifurcate the State. Already, members of AU Non-Teaching Employees’ Joint Action Committee (JAC), AU Teachers’ JAC and AU Samaikyandhra Students’ Ikya Front were continuing their agitation demanding Samaikyandhra by observing relay hunger strike at different camps. Though the agitation had affected the regular classes and research work, all sections of staff were continuing their stir without any compromise.

Manda Krishna Madiga’s effigy burnt

Meanwhile, taking strong exception to the remarks made by Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) founder Manda Krishna Madiga about Seemandhara people, members of Andhra University MRPS burnt his effigy in front of AU main gate on Tuesday raising slogans against him. Leaders Samuel, Jalaiah, Surendra and Venkat threatened that they would not allow the proposed public meeting to be held by Krishna Madiga in Guntur on September 17 and asked him to withdraw his proposal.

Rythu Bazaars closed

More than 1,000 farmers, including women, selling vegetables in the 12 Rythu Bazaars in the city, in association with DWCRA members, observed bandh on Tuesday with prior intimation to the officials. They kept away from the Rythu Bazaars as part of their Samaikyandhra agitation. Holding placards and raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra, the farmers took out a massive rally covering majority of the Rythu Bazaars and reached Narasimhanagar Rythu Bazaar on the National Highway where they formed a human chain disrupting vehicular traffic for over an hour. The leaders said though there was no public transport to bring vegetables, they were bringing material from rural areas in auto-rickshaws all these days hoping that the Centre would reconsider its decision on bifurcation. The unilateral decision of the Centre had forced them to join the agitation, they said and threatened to go on an indefinite bandh if the decision was not withdrawn. Later, they organised ‘Vanta-Varpu’ on the National Highway.

TDP protests continue

Workers of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), under the aegis of party urban district wing, were continuing their agitation by observing relay hunger strike at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Gandhi statue. A large number of Telugu Mahila members were present. The party leaders raised slogans in favour of unified Andhra Pradesh. The urban district wing also convened a meeting on Tuesday involving all the Ward presidents, secretaries and former corporators to chalk out the future course of agitation.

BCs take out rally

A large number of Samaikyandhra BC Hakkula Porata Samithi, led by its convenor Sanapala Panduranga Rao, took out a rally from Madhavadara to Birla Junction covering VUDA Colony and other areas demanding Samaikyandhra. On this occasion, Mr Panduranga Rao threatened to intensify the agitation if the Centre failed to roll back its ‘T’ decision.

TSR visits fast camps

Founder of TSR Seva Peetham and Rajya Sabha member T Subbarami Reddy visited the relay hunger strike camp being observed under the aegis City Congress Committee president Behra Bhaskara Rao at the Gandhi statue near GVMC on Tuesday. He also visited another fast camp of Muslims where former MLA SA Rehman and others were on fast demanding united Andhra Pradesh. Later TSR, accompanied by Government Whip Dronamraju Srinivas, City Mahila Congress president Pedada Ramani Kumari, TSR Seva Peetham chief coordinator D Varada Reddy and TSR secretary Sk Bhasha, visited Lord Ganesh pandals and Ganesh temple at Seetampet in the city and offered prayers.

YSRCP workers’ fast

Activists and leaders of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) continued the relay fast at the GVMC Gandhi statue on Tuesday in which leaders Vamsi Krishna Srinivasa Yadav, GV Raviraj, Satti Ramakrishna Reddy, Koyya Prasada Reddy and others participated.

Bar Association rally

Members of Visakhapatnam Bar Association continued their relay fast in front of District Court on Tuesday raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra. Meanwhile, a large number of employees working in different courts in the city took out a rally from the GVMC to Jagadamba. As part of their support to the striking advocates, they formed a human chain near the relay fast camp paralysing vehicular traffic.

Wall poster released

Members of GVMC Employees’ JAC too continued their protest demanding unified Andhra Pradesh in front of the GVMC main gate. The GVMC officials held a meeting at the Old Council Hall on Tuesday and released a wall poster for the proposed ‘Samaikyandhra Sankharavam’ to be held in the city. ADC (General) Ramesh and other officials attended.

Adivasis take out rally

Paderu (Visakha Agency): Members of the Steering Committee of all Adivasi Sanghams took out a rally from the RTC Complex to the MPDO office here on Tuesday demanding the State and the Central governments to keep the entire area covered under the Fifth Schedule in Andhra Pradesh as it is without any bifurcation.

The leaders alleged that the Adivasis would be the main losers if the State was bifurcated in terms of implementation of Acts meant for them. Steering Committee leaders Ch. Bhaskara Rao Padhal, J Suryanarayana, S Raja Rao, Ch. Srinivasa Padhal, employees and students participated in the rally.