YSR Congress district units staged blocked roads and burnt effigies of the State and Union governments on Monday, accusing the latter of being unresponsive to the indefinite fast launched by their party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy in Guntur, seeking special category status to Andhra Pradesh.
The cadre led by their respective local leaders in Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Prakasam districts staged rasta rokos, condemning the remarks made by some Ministers on the health reports of their fasting leader whose deeksha entered the sixth day on Monday.
In Vizianagaram, YSRC district president and MLC Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy was among 15 persons arrested on Monday when they blocked the road at Mayuri Junction in support of their party president.
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When police tried to scuttle the protest, the party cadres termed it as police high-handedness. They also made a vain bid to burnt effigies of Ministers Kamineni Srinivasa Rao and P. Pulla Rao, condemning their remarks on the health reports of Mr. Jaganmohan.
In Srikakulam, YSRC and Congress activists led by their leaders Reddi Shanti and Dharmna Rammanohar Naidu respectively staged a rasta roko at the 7Road junction, demanding that that health bulletin of the fasting YSRC chief be made public immediately. Meanwhile, similar protests continued in many mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district and special prayers were offered in temples for Mr. Jaganmohan.
In Prakasam district, the party activists torched the effigies of the NDA government at the Centre and its TDP counterpart in the State. The activists led by Ongole unit president Kuppam Prasad took out a rally to the Statue of Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu at Lawyerpet. In Chirala, the protesters burnt effigies of Ministers P. Pulla Rao and Kamineni Srinivas. Meanwhile, YSRC State general secretary Balineni Srinivasa Reddy led party activists in large numbers to Guntur to express solidarity with their fasting leader. In Kurnool MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy’s wife Vijayamma and women activists of YSRC undertook relay hunger strike.
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Mild tensions prevailed at the Sri Venkateswara University as a research scholar named Masumaiah attempted suicide by dousing himself with petrol, during the demonstration by student unions on the varsity premises.
Rural Development Minister Kimidi Mrunalini asked Mr. Jagany to stop doublespeak and invited suggestions, if he has any. At a press conference in Vizianagaram, she said “airports and industries cannot be built in air. How Mr. Jagan will build airports and industries without acquiring lands.”