Kadapa, December 20: Samaikyandhra agitators organised a rail roko in the district from 6 am to 6 pm today disrupting train services. Several trains were detained at Rajampet, Kadapa, Kamalapuram, Yerraguntla and Muddanur in the 170- km Kodur – Kondapuram section.
Mumbai-Kanyakumari, Venkatadri, Rayalaseema and Jayanthi Express trains were running several hours behind schedule. Goods trains were also detained at Kadapa, Yerraguntla and other places.
The railway authorities diverted many long distance trains without touching Kadapa. The express trains going towards North were diverted via Renigunta and Vijayawada. Trains coming from North were diverted via Guntakal and Dharmavaram. Goods trains were also detained at Kadapa, Yerraguntla and other places.
Some unidentified Samaikyandhra protesters set fire to BSNL phone exchange at Kondapuram. The exchange was partially damaged. The protesters who barged into the exchange, also damaged the cell tower. The total loss was estimated at Rs 2 lakh.
Meanwhile, Rayachoti MLA Srikanth Reddy and Jammalamadugu MLA Adinarayana Reddy strongly condemned the remark of Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhara Rao that the Samaikyandhra stir was sponsored by the rich and influential leaders. They warned Rao of dire consequences if he continued his tirade against the united Andhra movement. The Congress leaders said they submitted their resignations to the MLA posts soon after the Centre’s announcement that separate Telangana State would be created.
Replying to a question, the MLAs said Congress MPs were also ready to quit their posts for the cause of united AP. The MPs would decide their future course of action after waiting till December 22 for a favourable decision from the high command, they said.
——Agencies