Administrative work paralysed in AU

Sloganeering, patriotic songs echo at relay fast camps; Doctors, nurses, Class IV employees of KGH, NGOs continue fasts

Visakhapatnam: Administrative work in all sections was paralysed in the Andhra University from Wednesday with all employees, under the banner ‘AU Non-Teaching Employees’ Union’, joining the Samaikyandhra agitation. The city and district units of APNGOs’ Association, doctors, nurses, Class IV employees of KGH, lawyers and members of Teachers’ Joint Action Committees (JACs) were continuing their relay hunger strikes demanding unified Andhra Pradesh. However, employees of essential services were exempted from the strike.

The varsity employees, including women and teachers of AU Primary and High School, who gathered at the Gandhi statue near the Registrar office, took out a rally to the AU main gate on the Waltair Main Road raising slogans and holding placards in favour of Samaikyandhra. Later, the integrationists formed a human chain for over an hour on the main road crippling vehicular traffic. The protest was led by union president Botta Ramachander. On this occasion, he questioned why the UPA-led Central government was interested in bifurcating Andhra Pradesh alone when there were similar demands from other States. He said the agitation would continue till the unilateral decision was withdrawn by the Centre. However, the car drivers of Vice-Chancellor Prof. GSN Raju, Rector Prof. EA Narayana and Registrar Prof. K Ramamohana Rao were spared from the stir.

Meanwhile, the members of AU Hostel Employees’ Union and the AU Samaikyandhra Students’ Ikya Front were continuing the relay fast at their respective camps. Members of both city and district units of APNGOs’ Association continued their relay fast at the Collectorate on Wednesday demanding resignations of all Seemandhra ministers, Central ministers and MLAs in favour of unified Andhra Pradesh.

Doctors, nurses and Class IV employees of KGH, under the banner ‘Samaikyandhra Medical JAC’, continued their relay fast on the premises of KGH. Earlier in the morning, as part of their two-hour regular protest, they conducted a gate meeting raising slogans against bifurcation. Dr Syamsunder, Dr PA Ramani, Dr Vijaysekhar and Dr Ramakrishna led the protest. Among others, Dr KPS Adinarayana and Class IV employees, including B Koteswara Rao, N Anandakumar, B Chinna Rao, A Sundara Rao, V Gaurisankar, M Gurunadha Rao and G Brahmaji, were on the relay fast on Wednesday.

Members of Visakhapatnam Bar Association too continued their protest by observing relay fast in front of the District Court to which all judicial employees extended support. The association leaders said the agitation would be intensified till their demand was met.