TDP leader Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy launched 96-hour fast, named, ‘Rayalaseema Awakening’ ( melukolupu ) on the bank of Hundri river here on Saturday.
Rayalaseema Rastra Samithi president Kuncham Venkata Subba Reddy of Kadapa and Bojja Dasaratha Ramireddy joined the fast. The BJP and the Forward Bloc expressed their solidarity with the movement.
Mr. Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy said that the Centre should either keep Andhra Pradesh as one unit or divide into three States, by creating separate Rayalaseema State to provide right to self rule to the people of the region.
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Fiery speech
A large number of supporters of Mr. Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy from Nandikotkur and other places gathered at the venue and expressed their solidarity.
Mr. Rajasekhar Reddymade a fiery speech, urging the people of Rayalaseema to send a strong message across as clandestine activity is going on for creation of Telangana and merger of Rayalaseema with Andhra.
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The movement by Mr. Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy is causing a rift among the TDP leaders as none of them approve of it.
Most of the leaders remained aloof while he said that TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu should give up two-dimension theory and adopt a three-dimension stand. He said there was no need to take the approval of the party in his struggle. Meanwhile, a section of TDP leaders and cadres, mainly supporters of K.E. Krishna Murthy, kept themselves away from the agitattion.
District president Somisetty Venkateswarly told The Hindu that TDP has nothing to do with Mr. Byreddy’s programme.