What the elected representatives could not to do so far, about 600 platform rickshaw-pullers, members of APNGO Association and various JACs succeeded in doing on Thursday evening.
The rickshaw pullers along with the APNGO members and students, especially from Krishna University, laid a siege to the arterial Benz Circle. The dharna by the rickshaw pullers was termed as the strongest in the last two months by an inspector from the CRPF.
When a rickshaw puller was asked why was he agitating, his reply was simple, “We have voted people like Lagadapati Rajagopal to power and today they have betrayed us. We do not understand politics, but we understand the meaning and value of bifurcation and we do not want it to happen.”
Call for 48-hr bandh
On hearing the news the APNGOs called for a 48-hour bandh from 6 a.m. on Friday. Lashing out at the Congress ministers and MPs Krishna District Convenor, A. Vidyasagar, said it is shameful that the leaders were not aware of the T - note coming for discussion in the Cabinet meet.
“And it is more disgraceful that they could not prevent it. At least now they should resign on moral grounds,” he said. The TDP also called for a 24-hour Krishna District bandh on Friday. The Student JAC leader Devineni Avinash said that the proposed public meeting on Friday near Nirmala Convent Road was cancelled keeping in mind the bandh call given by various organisation and volatile situation that prevails post the cabinet nod for bifurcation of the state.
‘Political conspiracy’
Addressing a press meet, Political JAC Convenor Kolanukonda Shivaji said that this was seen coming, as none of the political leaders had taken up the agitation in a passionate way. Former national president of Samata Party V.V. Krishna Rao termed the bifurcation a political conspiracy authored by the CWC.
“It can be seen as a plot to finish Andhra Pradesh. Just imagine that a committee is talking about bifurcating a State and there is not a single person from the State in that committee,” he said.
He further added that the conspiracy was deep-rooted as the Central government had positioned over 20,000 non-Telugu speaking paramilitary force two months ago to quell the agitation. He also termed Constitution Article 3 that empowers the Central government to change the map of a state without the approval of the Assembly or a referendum as draconian.
“This needs to be amended, as people sitting in Delhi cannot play with the sentiments of people 1,000 km away,” he said.
