Anti-Telangana Protests rock Andhra Pradesh

Protests and shutdown continued for the second consecutive day in Coastal Andhra and Raylaseema over the Centre’s decision to carve out a separate Telangana state. Congress offices were attacked elsewhere in the region, while people in huge numbers launched protests outside the homes of Congress MLAs and Ministers.

Schools, shops, business establishments and institutions remained closed. Buses and taxis stayed off the roads too. The protesters burnt the effigies of senior Congress leaders and asked the MPs and MLAs to resign in protest.

Shouting slogans of ‘Jai Samaikya Andhra’ or ‘United Andhra’, the protesters, including students, activists, officers, teachers, lawyers and government officials have take out rallies in Kadapa, Anantpur, Chittoor, Kurnool, Tirupati, Eluru,  Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Vijaynagaram and many other parts.

Statues of late prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were vandalised at some places. The Samaikya Andhra Joint Action Committee (JAC) is spearheading the protests. Six Ministers of Andhra Pradesh government, two Congress MPs and six other Congress MLAs have already resigned. Many more will follow suit soon.