Loksatta national convener Jayaprakash Narayan tasted the ire of Samaikhyandra agitationists on the first day of his Telugu Tejam expedition here on Saturday. Dr. Narayan, who launched his road show at Kondareddy Fort, was booed and jeered by the protesters soon after he started the address. At one stage, the unruly mob, comprising members of the JAC of Teachers and Lecturers pulled down and tore the banners. As Dr. Narayan continued his speech undaunted by the protests, the group deflated the tyres of his vehicle and disrupted the sound system.
Dr. Narayan was scheduled to address a meeting at montessori school soon after his arrival in the town and later take part in road show and public speech at Kondareddy Fort and a roundtable at St. Joseph’s Degree College. The first programme went off without any hitch, but the protesters almost disrupted his road show forcing him to retire to the guest house.
The protesters chased and followed him to the guest house where he was confined to his room for a few hours until he offered to talk to them. The protesters told him that the tone and tenor of his speech indicated his tacit support for division of the State and demanded his unconditional support for Samaikyandhra movement. They took exception to Dr. Narayan not garlanding the statue of Telugu Talli where he addressed a meeting. Dr. Narayan objected to the garlanding controversy saying they could not dictate terms to him to do things what they wished.
In fact, Dr. Narayan did not notice the statue which was covered by the buntings and banners. He cancelled the roundtable conference due to the disturbances.
The apologies and pleadings of State president Katari Srinivas Rao and others to the agitationists had little impact who insisted that Dr. Narayan change his views on the agitation, as he earlier asked people not to take up modes of protests that derailed the education of children or caused inconvenience to general public. He told people that one should not knife the nose if one does not like countenance. The remarks enraged the protesters. Uncertainty loomed large over the continuing of Telugu Tejam road show in other towns following the sad experience on the first day itself. However, the organisers of the programme said Dr. Narayan was bent upon carrying forward his journey.
Hyderabad Special Correspondent writes: The campaign against the Lok Satta president in both Telangana and Seemandhra regions when as he was trying for an amicable solution to the present strife in the State is unfortunate, said State unit vice-president D.V.V.S.Varma.
He condemned those who tried to disrupt LSP chief’s ‘Telugu Tejam’ meeting at Kurnool and some others in Telangana for distorting his remarks without appreciating his efforts to bring about rapprochement between Telugus of all regions.
Guntur Staff Reporter writes: MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao tasted the ire of supporters of unified State, who included activists of TDP and YSR, when he went to inaugurate the new flyover here along with Rural Development Minister D. Manikya Vara Prasada Rao. me.
