United Andhra supporters build up protests against division

Supporters of united Andhra Pradesh today intensified their protests in the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions against the Congress leadership's reported proposal to divide the state.

The united Andhra protagonists held protests outside the residences or offices of Union Ministers and ruling party MPs including D Purandeswari (Visakhapatnam), K S Rao (Eluru), L Rajagopal (Vijayawada) among others.

The students, employees and others staged a dharna in front of the residence of Union Minister D Purandeswari and MP Sabbam Hari in Visakhapatnam.

A large number of students led by their Joint Action Committee (JAC) held a sit-in at the main gate of Andhra University in Visakhapatnam and burnt an effigy of Congress leaders from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

The united Andhra supporters protested outside the residence of Congress Lok Sabha member L Rajagopal in Vijayawada but they were prevented from entering his house.

In Kurnool, the protagonists of united Andhra Pradesh organised a sit-in near the district collector's office.

They planned to call for closure of educational institutions in the region tomorrow to protest the reported move to divide Andhra Pradesh.

Protests were also held in West Godavari (represented by Union Minister K S Rao), Srikakulam and other districts in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

Meanwhile, the UPA Coordination Committee will meet on July 31 to finalise its stand on the vexed Telangana issue amid indications from Congress that carving out a separate state out of Andhra Pradesh is a foregone conclusion and that complexities involved in the process will be adequately addressed.