Unique protests continue

Visakhapatnam: Samaikyandhra agitation reached a new crescendo with many Joint Action Committees (JACs) taking part. The struggle, which entered the 50th day on Tuesday, seems to have no impact on the decision-makers at the Centre and there is no letup on part of the agitators.

The Visakhapatnam Muslim JAC (VMJAC) concluded the relay hunger camp by organising a Namaz at the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Junction. Hundreds of Muslims participated in the Namaz, which later ended in ‘Vanta-Varpu’. They vowed to take the agitation to new dimensions if the decision of separation was not rolled back. The JAC members started the relay hunger strike a week ago with the objective of ‘Samaikyandhra Parirakshana’.

Addressing the camp, the VMJAC chairman IH Farooqui said Andhra Pradesh could prosper only if it was united. The decision of bifurcation cropped up only due to selfish motives of some political leaders, he said and appreciated the Muslims of the district for having come together to express their dissent against division. He stated that the VMJAC would continue the agitation in various forms and the schedule of action would be announced shortly.

VMJAC convenor Sk A Ali said the agitation would be made to be heard by the leaders sitting in Delhi so that they take back the decision. He said the protests would be continued in various forms until the Congress Working Committee (CWC) decision on bifurcation was withdrawn.

President of All Mosques Federation SR Khan, Government Qazi Ahmedullah Khan, Aslam Bhai, former corporators Sk Vali, Md Rafi, Chota Rehman, women representative Prof. Syed Meharun, Khadar Baba, treasurer KM Jeelani and members of the organising committee Shabbir, Babu Bhai, Md Ali Khan, Sheik Khadar Baba participated in the programme. The representatives of all the mosques extended their support to the movement.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and their cadres conducted a mock drama by touching the feet of a Sonia Gandhi look-alike. The leaders later conducted a mock drama depicting Jagan as taking Rayalaseema, KCR taking over Telangana and Chiranjeevi trying to take over the reins of Andhra Pradesh. They raised slogans against KCR and Sonia Gandhi. They also depicted Sonia Gandhi with KCR and YSRCP on a balance, indicating the merger of both parties with the Congress.

The State government and GVMC teachers protested blindfold for over an hour at the GVMC Junction. They wanted the government to take a decision in the interests of the students as they were facing loss of attendance. “The future of the students is bleak,” a teacher commented.

About 500 teaching and non-teaching employees of the Andhra University participated in a relay hunger strike camp protesting against bifurcation. There was spontaneous response for the agitation as employees participated in large numbers. They raised slogans against KCR, Sonia and the Union ministers who were playing with the people’s sentiments.

Panchayat Raj employees took part in ‘Vanta-Varpu’ programme at the Zilla Parishad Junction. A large number of employees took part in the programme. The Commercial Taxes Department employees also participated in full strength. Their protest was different. They went in a rally from Siripuram to Jagadamba Junction, opened make-shift stalls and sold a few eatables as a novel protest.