Protests continue for united Andhra

Protests in the form of rallies and fasts for a united Andhra Pradesh continued in the state on Sunday.

Praja Rajyam Chief Chiranjeevi and TDP MLAs went on with their campaign in the non-Telangana regions, while Congress MP L Rajagopal and other leaders continued their indefinite hunger strikes.

Chiranjeevi, who kicked off a campaign for united Andhra Pradesh after ending his party's support to separate Telangana, visited a group of lawyers who have been holding a fast in Vijayawada.

He said he changed his stand on the Telangana issue as the movement for a united state came from the hearts of the people.

The actor-turned-politician launched his campaign in his assembly constituency of Tirupati and visited Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

The 'Bus yatra' by TDP leaders to campaign for a united Andhra Pradesh reached Nandyal in Kurnool district today. The 'yatra' would end at Srikakulam towards the end of the month.

In Vijayawada, Congress MP L Rajagopal continued his fast in the hospital after being forcibly shifted there following deterioration in his health.

The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) yesterday directed the government to consider the plea of Rajagopal to shift him to the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad.

TDP legislator D Umamaheswara Rao too continued his week-long fast in the hospital. "They have forcibly administered saline. But I will continue my fast till Congress president Sonia Gandhi corrects her mistake and announce support for united Andhra Pradesh," he said.

TDP MLAs P Sunita, P Raghunadha Reddy and K Parthasarathi also continued their fasts in a hospital at Anantapur.

Film actress and former TDP leader R K Roja visited the fasting leaders at Anantapur and also called on the students of Sri Krishnadevaraya University in the town.