Four fasting leaders of the Samaikhyandra Vidyardhi Joint Action Committee were shifted to KGH on Sunday afternoon as their health deteriorated.
They are, however, continuing their fast there.
The fasting leaders - president of the JAC Laugudu Govinda Rao, Youth JAC leader Areti Mahesh, Andhra University leader Kantha Rao, and Girijan JAC leader Suresh Kumar - were shifted to the KGH after doctors examined them at the fast camp on the university premises. Mr. Govinda Rao had become unconscious after which 108 ambulance was called by students themselves.
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They were kept in the Men’s Special Ward. Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju visited them in the hospital.
Though another batch of activists started relay fast at the camp after the four were shifted to the KGH, they wound it up following the Vice-Chancellor’s advice, it was learnt.
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Two Congress activists were arrested after they damaged a bus during the rasta roko at Maddilapalem junction in the morning. There was mild tension with Congressmen indulging in an argument with the police.
Congress workers also organised a rasta roko at NAD Junction in the afternoon. Later, they went to the nearby railway track and stopped the Ratnachal Express coming from Vijayawada for a while.
At Duvvada railway station, INTUC cadres led by Mantri Rajasekhar stopped the Visakhapatnam-bound Tirumala Express and Howrah-bound Bokaro Express opposing the bifurcation.
Member of the first Lok Sabha K.S. Tilak performed “palabhishekam” to the statue of Potti Sriramulu, whose martyrdom led to the formation of Andhra Pradesh.
He complimented Andhra University students for their struggle against division of the State.
TDP decision
A meeting of party constituency in-charges and ward-level office-bearers held at the TDP office decided to involve itself in the struggle for united Andhra Pradesh in view of the sentiments of the people.
Visakhapatnam East MLA V. Ramakrishnababu, who resigned to his post, said the UPA government’s “mindless decision” to bifurcate the State dealt a blow to the self-respect of the Telugus.
Former Minister Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy questioned the locus standi of Congress leader Digvijay Singh to make statements on the division of the State.
He castigated UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for deeply hurting the Telugus and bifurcating the State with the sole aim of making her son Prime Minister.
Former corporators Gudivada Amarnath, Gandham Srinivasa Rao, Ch.V. Pattabhi, Lella Koteswara Rao, Alla Srinivasa Rao, Ommi Sanyasi Rao, and Kotra Kanna Rao, party leaders Bharanikana Rama Rao, Harshavardhan Prasad, Lodagala Krishna, and Potanna Reddy participated. The leaders later performed “palabhishekam” to the statue of NTR at Ramnagar.
They later went to the fast camp of advocates on the district court premises and expressed their solidarity.
Muslim JAC to protest
Visakha Muslim JAC will organise a protest at Jagadamba Junction at 11 a.m. on Monday. Samaikhyandhra Visakha Muslim JAC convener S.A. Rahaman said a decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held on Sunday. He appealed to members of the community to participate in a big way.
UTF puts off rally
The Andhra Pradesh United Teachers’ Federation has put off its proposed rally on Tuesday in view of teleconferences of Rajiv Vidya Mission on Monday and Tuesday and the ongoing Samaikhyandhra agitation, according to district president and general secretary K.K. Jajulu and Y.A.R.K. Prasad.
A decision to this effect was taken at the State executive meeting held on Sunday.
Dig at CP
Telugu Yuvata city unit has taken exception to a statement of Police Commissioner B. Shivadhar Reddy asking those below 18 years not to participate in the Samaikhyandhra protests and putting school managements, students, and parents under pressure. A protest was organised at Ramnagar junction on Sunday demanding the transfer of the Police Commissioner.