Samaikyandhra protesters on Thursday vowed to intensify the agitation until the Congress Working Committee withdrew its decision to divide the State.
At the Machilipatnam Samaikya Samara Bheri organised by the Eastern Krishna Samaikya Parirakshana Samithi, leaders, cutting across party lines, and members of government employees’ union said the ongoing protests would be intensified in the next few days across the coastal Andhra region.
Thousands of people turned up for the meeting with a majority of them being students, representing educational institutions in eastern Krishna. They joined the ‘bheri’, which began with a tri-colour rally from Revathi Centre to the venue — Noble College grounds.
After the colourful cultural performances by groups of students, APNGO Association general secretary N. Chandrasekhar Reddy opined that the ‘United Andhra’ movement resembles India’s second freedom movement.
“Hyderabad belongs to everyone from all the three regions of Andhra Pradesh and thus neither State nor Central government has right to take the decision solely over it,” said Mr. Chandrasekhar Reddy.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Machilipatnam Chamber of Commerce, Bar Association, government and corporate educational institutions’ associations promised their support to intensify the protest.
Responding to TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s statements on right over Hyderabad city, AP Intellectual Forum leader Chalasani Srinivas said people in coastal Andhra would always get their demands solved in a peaceful manner. He also recollected the glorious past of the numerous intellectuals belonging to Machilipatnam during the India’s freedom struggle.
The leaders who addressed the gathering reminded people that it was time to go ahead with the strong means of protests for united Andhra, without completely relying on political leaders.
Students accompanied by their teachers took a pledge to lead the protests in order to keep the State united and not to lose Hyderabad.
