Hyderabad, Jul 30: Supporters of united Andhra Pradesh yesterday 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.
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.
In Kadapa district, A Sai Pratap, Congress MP from Rajampeta parliamentary constituency, promised that he would fight for united Andhra Pradesh in Parliament.
Addressing a huge gathering of students and NGOs, who surrounded his house, Sai Pratap, however, did not make any clear statement regarding his resignation, which was demanded by the agitators.
He also participated in the rally organised by the agitators.
Meanwhile, a group of NGOs, advocates and students of Proddatur surrounded the house of TDP MP Rajya Sabha member C M Ramesh.
His brother Suresh expressed solidarity to the agitation and fight for unified state.
Advocates have boycotted the courts throughout the district for the fifth consecutive day today.
In Vijayawada, the joint action committees (JAC) of students and non-gazetted officers' associations held a sit-in protest in front of MP L Rajagopal's house, urging him to exert pressure on the Centre to avoid division of Andhra Pradesh.
Convenor of students' JAC, D Avinesh, and government employees' JAC joint convenor Md Iqbal led the protest.
They said that the MP should immediately tender his resignation to exert pressure on the government for not taking a decision in favour of the creation of Telangana state, which would divide the state.
Similar protests were also held in Machilipatnam.
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