Several political leaders, including Ministers S. Sailajanath and Kondru Murali and Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, on Saturday said pride of Telugu people would remain intact as long as Andhra Pradesh State was united.
They urged people not to encourage bifurcation of the State since it was not beneficial to any region and it would only help detractors who were keen to weaken Telugu people by encouraging division of the State.
A public meeting, Sikkolu Simhagarjana, was held at municipal grounds in support of United Andhra Pradesh.
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Speaking on the occasion, Dr.Sailajanath said Telugu people used to command respect even in the tenure of Sri Krishnadevaraya, who ruled Vijayanagara dynasty from 1509 to 1529 AD. Mr.Kondru Murali said North Andhra region had taken the initiative in taking up agitations in favour of United Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Rajagopal said Telangana region had never enjoyed status of separate entity while quoting the history of Nizams and others. Etcherla MLA Meesala Neelakantham Naidu, Srikakulam DCCB chairman Dola Jagan, Samaikyanadhra Forum leader Balaga Prakash and others spoke in the meeting. Cultural programmes were arranged to explain the importance of Telugu pride and United Andhra Pradesh.