Banks and central government offices in the city wore a deserted look on Thursday as Samaikyandhra activists forced their closure and staged dharna demanding that the Centre reverse its decision on bifurcation of the state.
RTC employees on the banner of National Mazdoor Union (NMU) went round banks and central government offices and picketed them. Starting with the Andhra Bank Zonal Office at Seethammadhara, they went around other banks and Central Government offices and appealed to employees to cooperate with Samaikhyandhra JACs in their endeavour to keep the state united. NMU leader Y. Srinivasa Rao came down heavily on the Centre for its indifferent attitude towards the workers and employees in Seemandhra who were on an indefinite fast for the past 51 days. He also flayed the MLAs and MPs for their ‘resignation dramas’. He called upon Central Government employees to voluntarily boycott their duties on Friday also failing which the offices would be picketed.
NMU leaders PVV Mohan, P.N. Rao, MVR Murthy and AK Sivaji were among those who participated.
A motorcycle rally was taken out by leaders of various JACs from the Collectorate to Simhachalam via Jagadamba junction, NAD and Gopalapatnam demanding reversal of the decision on bifurcation of the state. Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi chairman K. Eswara Rao said that private schools and colleges would observe a bandh from September 23 to 30. The protests would continue till the Centre reversed its decision.
Women members of Human Rights Council and other women organisations announced their decision to take out a rally in support of Samaikyandhra from Old Jail Road junction to the District Court, where advocates were on a relay hunger strike.
Member of the AP Bar Council S. Madhavi Latha and senior advocate T. Suguna will flag off the rally.
Members of the AP State Audit Employees Association, who had been on an indefinite strike for the last one month, launched a relay hunger strike three days ago. Ch.V.R.C. Murthy PVB Rambabu, Manikyam and Varalakshmi sat on a fast on Thursday.
