The majestic ‘Gangireddu’, the decorated Ongole bull, in colourful attire was paraded on the street on Wednesday to further the cause of Samaikyandhra by integrationists.
As it nodded its head and danced in perfect coordination to the Nadaswaram and Dol played by its master, APNGO leaders used it to take a dig at the Congress-led UPA for its decision to bifurcate the state.
They compared the bull with the high-powered A.K.Antony committee constituted to hear the grievances of Seemandhra leaders over the Congress Working Committee's decision to bifurcate the state.
Amid thunderous applause, the integrationists said ‘similar to the bull, the Antony Committee will dance to the tunes of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi,’ likening her to the bull trainer.
APNGOs State Associate President Sk.Abdul Basheer and its district secretary Bandi Srinivas Rao played the role of bull trainers for sometime as the employees lustily cheered them.
Mr.Basheer said: “we will take part only in flag hoisting programme on Thursday. But we will keep away from any assets distribution and customery at-home as part of the Independence Day celebrations.”
Meanwhile, ten key student leaders were taken into preventive custody ahead of their rail roko stir, police said.
Later the employees, whose indefinite strike entered the second day on Wednesday, took out a massive rally and shouted slogans in support of United Andhra pradesh.
APSRTC employees, whose indefinite strike paralysed bus services with over 800 state-run buses confining to the eight depots in the district, took out a motorcycle rally and formed a human chain to press for Samaikyandhra.
Candlelight rally
Civic services were disrupted as the municipal employees kept away from work. Electricity employees took out a massive candlelight procession in the evening.
In Chirala, integrationists took out a 'half-naked' procession and staged a demonstration at the Cloak Tower centre.
In Markapur, dealers of fertilizers and pesticides organised an impressive procession even as students, government and municipal employees and RTC workers staged protests separately to impress upon the Centre to take back its decision to divide the state.
In Bhupathipalli in Markapur mandal, the protesters burnt the effigy of Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K.Chandrasekhar Rao
In Giddalur, the striking RTC employees joined by other protestors organised a ‘Vanta varpu’ programme. A bandh was observed in Parchur on a call given by the Samaikyandhra protagonists.
Similar protests were also organised in Yerragondapalem, Kandukur and Kanigiri, according to reports received here.
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.
