APNGOs begin indefinite strike against Telangana

Hyderabad, August 13: The entire administration of Andhra Pradesh is all set to freeze as nearly four lakh government employees affiliated with the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers Association began their indefinite strike from Monday midnight demanding that the Centre keep the State united.

Several government and non-government associations have extended their support to the strike call given by the APNGOs. The employees union of Kakinada Port too has decided to go on 48-hour strike in support of Saimakhyandhra agitation. Therefore, the Anchorage Port and Deep Water Port will not function on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Seemandhra Petrol Bunk Owners Association too have extended support to the strike and decided to keep all petrol bunks close for 24-hours from Monday midnight.

With 6,600 RTC employees joining the strike, nearly 12,000 buses remained parked on 123 depots across the State. They include 3,300 buses in 32 depots of Vijayawada division and 1,356 buses of 14 depots of Krishna Division.

The government doctors will join the strike from Tuesday. However, they would attend to emergency duties in government hospitals.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the student JACs of 14 universities from Seemandhra region called for a bandh in all 13 districts on Tuesday in support of the APNGOs Association’s general strike.

APNGOs president P Ashok Babu said that the strike would not be called off unless the Centre reverses its decision on division of State. Further, he dismissed having negotiations with the AK Antony Committee as its official status was not clear. Earlier, the APNGOs served the final strike notice to Chief Secretary Dr PK Mohanty and later staged a blind fold protest in the State Secretariat. They also tried to gherao ministers including Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy demanding their resignations.

The APNGOs strike, if prolonged for long, will cripple the normal life as it was witnessed during 48-day long “Sakala Janula Samme” (general strike) called by Telangana Employees in 2011.