Bid to lay siege to houses of Minister, MP foiled

‘Decide between people and dictum of your party high command’

Political leaders and people protesting against bifurcation of the State lay a siege to houses of elected representatives on the second day of 72-hour bandh here on Thursday.

Intensifying the agitation, the NGOs’ Association and Students JAC attempted to lay a siege to Secondary Education Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy’s residence on Bandar Road. Heavy police presence near the minister’s residence foiled their attempts. The police literally cordoned off the residence and put up barbed fencing to prevent the entry of protesters.

On the occasion, association leader Vidyasagar said that the agitation was apolitical. Demanding the resignation of MLAs, MPs and Ministers, other elected representatives from coastal Andhra, he asked them to decide between people and their party high command dictum.

“They will otherwise be seen as betrayers of the Seemandhra in history”, he said.

The police picked up the association members, who were reluctant to vacate the place and asserted that they would continue their protest.

In the morning, YSR Congress Party activists led by P. Gowtham Reddy targeted Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal’s residence in Mogalrajpuram here. The police, however, foiled their attempts to barge into the residence.

They squatted on the road and raised slogans that Mr. Rajagopal had betrayed people. It sparked objection from the MP’s followers.

A wordy duel ensued between YSR Congress activists and the MP’s followers. Slogans against each rented the air. They accused each other of betraying the people.

The MP’s followers charged YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan of playing double game.

“Jagan favoured Telangana in that region, and united Andhra in this region,” they said, adding,

“Let the people know what your stance is.” The police bodily lifted the protestors and shifted them to police station.

Later, members of Bezwada Bar Association (BBA), who took out a rally from the court, submitted a memorandum at the MP office urging him to lead Samaikyandhra agitation. BBA president Matta Jayakar said that they were registering their protest in a Gandhian style, and the elected representatives were requested to join the agitation.