Intellectuals’ Forum leader Chalasani Srinivas has challenged TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Telangana protagonist Kodandaram for the public debate on the conditions prevailing in the Telangana and Andhra regions prior to their merger for formation of Andhra Pradesh.
He said many Telangana areas had no power before 1956. But places such as Srikakulam had electricity then, indicating that the Seemandhra region had witnessed development five decades ago.
Addressing a public meeting organised by the Srikakulam Intellectuals’ Forum at the Seven-Road junction on Thursday, Mr. Srinivas said public representatives had failed to protect the Telugu pride in New Delhi.
He recalled the history of Andhra rulers, who had brought laurels to Telugu speaking people centuries ago. Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Vedika leaders — Hanumanthu Sairam and Jami Bhima Shankar — and forum convener G. Narsu Naidu said the UPA government had failed to understand the feelings of six-crore people of Seemandhra, who had been on road for the last two months protesting against the move to bifurcate the State.
Meanwhile, APNGOs Association associate president Chowdary Purushottam Naidu objected to the remarks reportedly made by AICC leader Digvijay Singh that there was no need for employees to agitate when people of other regions were leading a normal life. He appealed to Mr. Singh to visit the Seemandhra region to know the ground reality.
As part of the agitation, 1,000 people would donate blood on October 5 here, Mr. Sairam said.
He said banks and other Central government offices would not be allowed to function on Friday and Saturday.
