Protests continued against state division across Seemandhra region on the fifth day on Sunday since the Congress party had announced its decision in favour of Telangana state.
One person, who was on hunger strike for the last five days for united AP, died in Chittoor, while two others attempted suicide in Krishna and Guntur districts.
G Munirathnam, a painter and Samaikandhra protogonist, who had been on fast along with Chittoor MLA CK Babu, died of cardiac arrest. The health of Babu was also reported to be detoriating. During a rally in Avanigadda, a youth identified as Avanigadda Srinivas, tried to self-immolate, but police foiled his bid. Similarly, another youth, Sheikh Imaran tried to self-immolate at Guntur and police foiled the attempt.
Samikandhra supporters raised slogans against chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy when he visited revenue minister N Raghveera Reddy’s house in Neelakantapuram in Madakasira mandal. Raghveera Reddy’s mother died recently.
Primary education minister S Sailjanath was forced to return from Penugonda, when protestors obstructed his vehicle. Jammalamadugu MLA C Adinarayana Reddy’s car was pelted with stones when he was on his way to Neelakantapuram to call on Raghuveera Reddy.
Demonstrations, rallies and burning of effigies of prominent Congress leaders and TRS chief KCR continued, but not on the scale of Saturday. As it was a Sunday, the leaders and organisations spearheading the protests, choose to sit-down, take stock of the situation and decide the future course of action.
NGOs Plan Strike
In Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh NGOs Association (APNGO) and Employees Joint Action Committee decided to go on indefinite strike from August 12 night if Seemandha MLAs, MPs and ministers do not resign truly. It was decided to bring more pressure on political leaders. It was also decided to serve a strike notice on the state government in a day or two. APNGO president P Ashok Babu said they will fight relentlessly to keep the state united and have chalked out different strategies to intensify the ‘Samaikandhra’ movement further.
Some Samaikyandhra torchbearers in North Coastal Andhra and the two Godavari districts got down to planning the future course of action, while others continued to stage demonstrations and rasta-rokos in different parts of the region.
Fasting Students Shifted
At Andhra University, students who are on fast were shifted to King George Hospital as their health deteriorated. Meawhile, the AU employees have decided to continue relay hunger strikes at several places.
In Rajahmundry, the agitators demanded that Union minister Chiranjeevi should resign to his post by August 21 and join the movement, failing which they threatened to obstruct the movies of his family members.