Samaikyandhra agitation intensified

Non-political JAC lauds NGOs for success of Hyderabad meet ; Stationers, printers, booksellers take out rally

Visakhapatnam: On-going Samaikyandhra agitation was further stepped up in the city with the integrationists from all walks of life organising protests, rallies, human chains and relay fasts at all important junctions crippling the vehicular traffic for hours. The thought-provoking speeches highlighting the ill-effects of bifurcation by the leaders of various associations of NGOs, Government Doctors, Government Nurses, Class-IV Employees and Joint Action Committees (JACs) of GVMC Employees and students and various political parties, along with singing of Telugu patriotic songs like, ‘Gandhi Puttina Desamaa Idi’ and ‘Telugu Jaathi Manadi’, were the main attraction at all camps on Thursday.

NGOs’ Association: Members of both city and district units of AP NGOs’ Association continued their relay hunger strike at the Collectorate demanding united Andhra Pradesh. District unit president Eswara Rao, secretary Gopalakrishna and city president Venkateswara Rao addressed the camp stating that the present agitation will be continued till the Centre withdrew the bifurcation move.

Meanwhile, a team of Samaikyandhra Non-Political JAC led by its convenor Prof. V Balamohandas arrived at the fast camp to express solidarity to the striking members.

Prof. Balamohandas and the head of Chaitanya Group of Educational Institutions and also MLC Chaitanya Raj said that they have invited the president of NGOs’ Association Ashokbabu for the proposed Samaikyandhra Garjana to be held on September 21 on the RK Beach road. The leaders appreciated the NGOs and their leaders for successful and peaceful conduct of the meeting in Hyderabad.

Mr Chaitanya Raj said that he was the first person who had resigned the post in the official format opposing the Centre’s move. Extending full support, he asked to intensify the stir till the bifurcation move was rolled back. Among others, AU BC leader Pithani Prasad, Samaikyandhra AU Students’ Ikya Front convenor V Shyamsunder Naidu, Prof. Santha Rao, Prof. Surappadu, Sunkara Ravindra, PLK Murthy, Vishnukumar Raju and Muralikrishna Raju were also present.

Samaikyandhra Medical JAC: Members of Government Doctors, Government Nurses and Class-IV Employees associations also continued relay hunger strike at KGH raising slogans in favour of united Andhra. Association State secretary Dr Pidakala Shyam Sundar and other leaders led the routine two-hour protest programme in front of the KGH on Thursday. Dr K Rambabu, Dr S Naveen, T Dhanalakshmi, V Lalitha, V Bharathi, K Sirisha, D Rajeswari, BB Lakshmi and D Venkata Lakshmi and others participated in the relay fast at the KGH.

Stationers, Printers and Booksellers: Thousands of members of Visakhapatnam Master Printers’ and Visakhapatnam Stationers and Booksellers’ Welfare associations took out a massive rally from Telugu Thalli statue at Maddilapalem to Collectorate covering Rama Talkies road, GVMC, Dabagardens and Jagadamba holding placards and raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra, holding up traffic at all important junctions.

People especially youth supported and joined the rally. The activists formed human chains on the busy Rama Talkies road, GVMC, Dabagardens and Jagadamba junction demanding the Centre to withdraw its bifurcation move.

Samaikyandhra Vidyut Employees’ JAC: Employees of Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL) as part of their indefinite strike from Thursday staged a protest in front of their corporate office raising slogans in favour of Samaikyandhra. The corporate office wore a deserted look with all the employees abstaining from duties. Meanwhile, SAVE JAC convenor Polaki Srinivasa Rao condemned the arrest of their chairman in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Teachers’ JAC: Members of all Teachers’ JACs observed a human chain demanding Samaikyandhra at the GVMC on Thursday after taking out a huge rally holding placards.

Andhra University: The administration in the Andhra University was crippled on the second day on Thursday with the all non-teaching employees striking work indefinitely in favour of Samaikyandhra movement. The angry members observed a protest in front of the Registrar’s office raising slogans.

Except essential services, all other sections were closed. Meanwhile, the members of Non-Teaching Employees’ JAC and Samaikyandhra AU Students’ Ikya Front continued relay hunger strike on the campus.