The agitation against the proposal to bifurcate the State has intensified with various associations joining the struggle here on Thursday.
The hunger strike of Gogineni Dhanasekhar reached third day, and members of Poura Samaja Vedika and Siddhartha Public School Evening Walkers’ Association expressed their solidarity by launching their relay hunger strike. The police, in the afternoon, shifted Mr. Dhanasekhar to a hospital as his health condition was deteriorating.
Gujarati and Rajasthani Samaj members took out a rally from Samarang Chowk and Vijayawada Car Motor Union, taxies associations etc took out a car rally.
The YSR Congress Mahila workers drew ‘muggulu’ (rangoli) on the road near Ranga statue on the Bandar Road. Students staged a dharna at Benz Circle bring the traffic to a halt.
Novel protest
Animal Husbandry Department employees staged a novel protest at Benz Circle after taking out a procession on the Bandar Road. The ‘gangireddulu’, (decorated bullocks), dogs etc formed part of the protest rally. The ‘gangireddulu’, known to follow the rules of their master, carried banner with slogan that they were also opposed to bifurcation; another attraction was a dog seated on a chair with the banner — ‘asamardhulani andalamekkiste’ (if incompetent are crowned) — indirectly referring to government.
Poura Samaja Vedika members — Mahendra Singh Sahani and Pothina Venkata Rama Rao — and Walkers Association president Cherukuri Ajay Kumar sat on relay hunger strike.
Mr. Rama Rao said that AICC president Sonia Gandhi took a unilateral decision without considering the sentiments of people and repercussions of the division of State.
The Vedika was planning to bring all the Joint Action Committees in 13 districts under one umbrella for a stronger voice against the division of state.
Pressure would be mounted on the elected representatives to tender their resignations and join the movement, he said, adding, an uncompromising struggle for Samaikyandhra would be on.
