Seemandhra stir: AP employees to chart future course tomorrow

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government employees, who are at the forefront of ongoing agitation against the proposed division of the state, would firm up their future course of action tomorrow. “We will hold a meeting on Monday to chalk out our next plan of action,” said P Ashok Babu, the leader of employees. He was addressing a public meeting organised by the employees and other united-Andhra supporters at Kurnool in Rayalaseema region. The pro-united Andhra employees have been on strike since August 13 and they are not in a mood to relent even though they did not get salaries, Ashok Babu said. [caption id=“attachment_1141409” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Seemandhra protesters. AFP[/caption] The employees have organised various forms of protest during the agitation programme. Ashok Babu demanded MPs from Seemandhra regions quit their posts to put pressure on the Centre to retain the unity of Andhra Pradesh. A ‘million march’ of united-Andhra supporters would be held in Hyderabad if the Bill for formation of separate state is tabled in Parliament, he said. Highlighting the need to keep the state united, Ashok Babu said water sharing would be a huge problem in the event of division. Observing that Hyderabad is home to several top educational institutions and companies, he said students and job-seekers from Seemandhra regions would suffer if the state is divided. “United Andhra is the wish of crores of people and organising the meeting, without participation of political leaders, for seven long hours reflected the mood of the people,” Ashok Babu said. Several leaders of employees and other united-Andhra protagonists spoke on the occasion. PTI