The members of Municipal Joint Action Committee led by Commissioner V. Rajendra Prasad on Sunday held a demonstration in Godavari river, in protest against the State bifurcation. Riding country boats, the protesters highlighted the issues pertaining to irrigation those are likely to crop up after the State division.
On the 58th day of their agitation, the municipal employees, teachers and workers formed a human chain in Godavari water by standing on 30 country boats in a queue line near the rail-cum-road bridge in Rajahmundry. The agitators also raised slogans against AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Digvijay Singh and other Congress bosses for speeding up the process of formation of Telangana State.
Addresing a gathering before embarking on the boats, Municipal JAC convener Ch. Srinivasa Rao and Commissioner Mr. Rajendra Prasad said that the ‘novel’ protest was aimed at conveying the modalities of State bifurcation to the Centre and general public. “Telangana leaders will build dams across the Godavari and there will be no water flow to Krishna, Godavari delta,” they pointed out.
Banana growers block NH-16
Meanwhile, the banana farmers and traders blocked the National Highway-16 at Ravula Palem on Sunday. Extending their solidarity to the Samaikyandhra movement, the farmers squatted on the road and continued their business on the highway itself, bringing the vehicular traffic on this busiest stretch to a grinding halt. The traders purchased banana loads from the farmers on the highway itself and carried them to their godowns.
Ravula Palem market yard, one of the busiest markets in the State, remained closed for the first time in the past 15 years on Sunday. The traffic was jammed for 10 kilometers on either side of the highway as the farmers and traders occupied the stretch from wee hours to 10 a.m. on Sunday. Tension prevailed when the police tried to convince the agitators to allow the vehicles to pass.
RTC JAC fast enters 60th day
Relay hunger strikes taken up under the aegis of RTC JAC at the RTC Complex in Rajahmundry reached 60th day on Sunday. Family members of the RTC employees, who have been on strike, took part in the Deeksha on Sunday. RTC leaders Sathi Babu and P.N. Rao expressed fears that the already cash-strapped RTC would be wiped out if the State is bifurcated. They made it clear that the strike would continue until the decision on bifurcation was withdrawn.
Similarly, the relay fast taken up by the Teachers’ JAC in front of the Government Arts College reached 13th day on Sunday.