Kiran faces wrath of integrationists

Protests continued for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday in Seemandhra region over the move to bifurcate the State as dharnas, human chains, traffic blockades were held in various parts, even as demands for resignation of people’s representatives grew louder.

AT Neelakantapuram in Anantapur district the Chief Minister was greeted with slogans for a united State and those demanding his resignation together with that of his Cabinet colleagues.

Minister for Primary Education Shailajanath was turned back from Penukonda by irate protesters and he could not go to Neelakantapuram.

The car of Jammalamadugu MLA Adinarayana Reddy was damaged by angry demonstrators.

EMBARRASSING MOMENTS

Thousands took to streets in Anantapur, including a large number of women demanding a unified State. Anantapur MP, Ananta Venkatarami Reddy faced embarrassing moments when students of Sri Krishnadevaraya University asked him to ensure that his resignation was accepted before he came to address them. However, he was allowed to speak after they were pacified.

GENUINE DEMANDS

Mr. Reddy advised the students to see that the movement did not slip into the hands of politicians as they could undermine their genuine demands.

BANDH

Meanwhile, Samaikyandhra Joint Action Committee called for a bandh in Anantapur district on Monday.

In Nellore, TDP activists took out a huge rally in support of Samaikyandhra, while YSR Congress Party leaders organised a rasta roko on the national highway.

RAISE SLOGANS

In Ongole, around 4,000 students took to streets and raised slogans supporting unified State.

Students also held a candlelight vigil in front of the statue of Tanguturi Prakasam. TDP activists took out a motorcycle rally in Chirala.

In Guntur, the members of various JACs took out rallies, while para-military forces kept a strict vigil to ensure that trouble-makers were kept at bay.

At Kadapa, JAC leaders asked elected representatives to resign in a week or face social boycott.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/kiran-faces-wrath-of-integrationists/article4989208.ece