Lawyers’ agitation gains strength

One of them launches fast unto death

The movement seeking establishment of the High Court in the Rayalaseema region gained further strength on Saturday with several advocates sitting on a day’s fast in support of another who decided to fast unto death.

Apparently miffed at the government’s alleged efforts to trample upon their agitation, advocate J. Raja Reddy decided to sit on fast unto death.

Five more advocates, Rachamallu Harinath Reddy, G. Mallikarjuna Sarma, Anjana Kumar, Dharam Singh Nayak, and A. Venkata Raghu Kumar, sat along with him on relay fast.

Speaking at the protest venue, Mr. Raja Reddy said development was being concentrated in a particular region.

“The government should be happy that we are trying to help it by mounting pressure on the Union Government to deliver. But it is trying to thwart our attempts,” said Mr. Raja Reddy.

Support building up

Meanwhile, the advocate community was getting support from all quarters, both social and political.

In the early hours of Friday, the police had forcibly shifted advocate Narayana Reddy to the government general hospital once his fast breached the three-day mark.