Silent protest against Telangana state

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal urged the people not to launch any agitations — bandhs or rasta rokos — that would cause immense trouble to the people.

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal along with Congress leaders participating in Mouna Poratam, in support for Samaikhyandhra in Vijayawada on Saturday. PHOTO: V.RAJU

A silent agitation passed off peacefully with a handful of agitators gathering at Mahatma Gandhi statue near Vijayawada Municipal Corporation main office here on Saturday.

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal urged the people not to launch any agitations — bandhs or rasta rokos — that would cause immense trouble to the people. He even did not favour resignations of MLAs and MPs in protest against any decision in favour of Telangana Statehood. It would not help in achieving the goal of united Andhra, instead, it would deprive an opportunity to oppose and vote against the Bill, he felt.

“The Students’ JAC, employees’ JAC etc. should mount pressure on the elected representatives. Let them understand the sentiments of people.

Unless you mount pressure on them, they will not vote against the Bill or oppose it,” the MP said, adding, “We better know that a sword of Damocles hangs over us. I will quit politics if the Telangana state was carved out.”

Congress leaders Meesala Rajeswara Rao and Adapa Nagendra, youth Congress leader Devineni Avinash and others were present.