Widespread protests against bifurcation

Civic employees launch relay hunger strike; lawyers organise bike rally in city

August 15, 2013 01:07 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 09:30 pm IST - VIJAYAWADA:

VMC Employees sit in a relay hunger strike in protest against the decision to bifurcate the State, in Vijayawada on Wednesday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

VMC Employees sit in a relay hunger strike in protest against the decision to bifurcate the State, in Vijayawada on Wednesday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Vijayawada Municipal Corporation employees launched a relay hunger strike on Wednesday as part of their ongoing protest against the CWC’s decision to bifurcate the State and also to demand the State Government to pay their salaries through the treasury.

The employees, in response to a call given by A.P. Municipal Employees JAC, launched an indefinite strike to oppose the division of the State. They also served notice on the Municipal Commissioner on the issue of 010 head of account, treasury salaries. The employees vowed to fight until the decision to divide the State was rolled back.

TDP rally

Telugu Desam Party activists took out a rally under the aegis of TDP (West) in charge Buddha Venkanna. They performed pooja to goddess Kanaka Durga at the foothill of Indrakeeladri. Party workers broke coconuts with an appeal to the goddess to shower her blessings on the people and keep the State united. A person decked up as Kalika devi was attraction at the rally taken out from Mr. Venkanna's office to Indrakeeladri.

Mylavaram MLA and TDP district president Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, TDP Vijayawada parliamentary incharge Kesineni Srinivas (Nani), TDP Urban president K. Nagul Meera, and others were present.

At Chuttugunta, TDP (Central) in-charge Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and others led a rally demanding united Andhra. On the occasion, Mr. Rao said that it was not possible for anyone to divide Telugus and the State.

TDP Vijayawada (East) in-charge Gadde Rammohan Rao took out a rally near Autonagar. YSR Congress leader Jaleel Khan organised a scooter rally in One Town. Electricity employees took out a rally at Gunadala.

Students displayed placards opposing the division of the State, while lawyers took out a bike rally in the city. Relay hunger strikes were organised at various junctions in the city.

Bike rally by APNGOs

Meanwhile, Employees of the Transport Department took out a two-wheeler rally and staff of the Dr.N.T.R. University of Health Sciences cooked and played games on the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway to register their protest against the proposal to bifurcate the State, with the AP NGOs Association strike entering the second day here on Wednesday.

Over 200 Transport Department employees took out a two-wheeler rally from the Deputy Transport Commissioner’s office near the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium on Mahatma Gandhi Road and Ring Road. They joined Health University staff in Vanta Varpu programme on the National Highway in front of the university. The NGOs also formed a human chain on the National Highway to express their solidarity. The Women and Child Welfare Department staff also participated in the rally from Benz Circle to the Sub-Collector’s Office.

Medicos join stir

Interestingly, former MP Gadde Ramamohan (TDP) and Vijayawada East MLA Yelamanchili Ravi who are known to be arch political rivals shook hands, lent a hand in cooking the dishes in Vanta Varpu and even played volleyball.

Junior doctors who have been on strike for the past 15 days took out a rally and staged a dharna at the Government General Hospital here. The medicos have been on strike demanding the State Government to scrap Government Orders nos. 40, 93 and 834 which are concerned with compulsory rural services for post graduate medicos, constitution of a high-level committee for the regulation of interdepartmental transfers and minimum experience of two years for nursing staff who want to do PG studies.

Andhra Pradesh Junior Doctors Association leaders Kranthi, Vamsi and Raja led the agitation. The medicos said the three GOs were unfair and would be opposed tooth and nail.

Protests in Guntur dt.

Students of various schools and colleges took the centre-stage in Wednesday’s protests against bifurcation of the State in the district. Thousands of them took out a rally through the main roads in Guntur demanding that the State should be kept united.

In a protest demonstration at Hindu College Centre, they reiterated that division of the State would have serious implications, which is the reason why the Congress should re-think about carrying the process of formation of Telangana forward.

The APNGOs’ and Revenue Services’ Associations continued their strike and only a few buses of APSRTC plied due to the agitation by its officers and staff. Advocates at the District Court abstained from duties and are set to begin relay hunger strikes on August 15.

TDP leaders Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, MLA Dhulipalla Narendra Kumar and others joined the protests and deplored the stubborn attitude of the Congress on Telangana.

MLA suffers dehydration

Prathipadu MLA Mekathoti Sucharita suffered a mild bout of dehydration at the end of a padayatra here on Wednesday.

Ms. Sucharita, who was garlanding the statue of Dr.B.R Ambedkar at the Lodge Centre, had a sudden bout of dehydration and slumped on the staircase causing some anxious moments among party cadres.

City Convener of YSRC Lella Appireddy and ex-MLA Ravi Venkataramana helped her regain composure before walking her back to her car.

YSRC supporters led by Mr. Appireddy and district unit president Marri Rajasekhar took out a massive rally from the B.R Stadium protesting against the proposed division of the State.

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