The Krishna District APNGOs Joint Action Committee (JAC) has strongly condemned the attack on Autonagar workers agitating for Samaikyandra allegedly by followers of Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal and demanded an unconditional apology by the MP.
Addressing a press conference at APNGOs’ Home here on Saturday, JAC chairman A. Vidya Sagar said the MP’s visit to the strike camp was the trigger for trouble that led to physical attacks on the demonstrators by the latter’s supporters.
He said the Autonagar Technicians’ Association had been agitating peacefully for the last 41 days, demonstrating their exemplary unity for the cause of Samaikyandhra.
The MP’s attempt to address the demonstrators triggered opposition by their leaders, who raised slogans such as ‘Lagadapati go back’. “Since tempers were frayed, the MP should have left the venue immediately. His followers resorting to physical attacks on the workers is intolerable,” he said, pointing out that the irate workers staged a twohour dharna in protest against the assault.
“To prove his claim that he is a staunch integrationist, Mr. Rajagopal should immediately apologise to the workers,” he demanded.
Referring to the “grand success” of Friday’s ‘Save Andhra Pradesh’ mahasabha, Mr. Sagar called it a “historic meeting” after a gap of 30 years. “People came out voluntarily in large numbers and sat through the fivehour- long meeting, braving downpour. It only reflects their steely resolve to prevent, at all costs, bifurcation of the State,” he maintained.
Bandh
The JAC leader said an eight-day bandh call was given to educational institutions from September 23 to 30 and a State-wide bandh would be observed on September 24 (Tuesday).
Mass hunger strike
Hanuman Junction in Krishna district would be the venue for the proposed ‘Rythu Garjana’ on October 2. The JAC also plans to organise a mega walk by integrating all walkers’ associations in the city in the next 10 days.
Besides, sometime during the month-end, it also proposes to organise a mass hunger strike camp with participation of 15,000- 20,000 people. “It will be a 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. protest,” he said.
Representatives of various JACs were present.
