Andhra, R'seema bandh on Jan 4, rail-roko on Jan 5

Vijayawada, Jan 2: The Joint Action Committee of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, which was rechristened as Samaikhyandhra Parirakshna Samiti, met here today and called for a Rayalaseema and Andhra bandh on Jan 4 and rail-roko the next day in a bid to exert pressure on the MLAs and MPs on the eve of talks with UPA government on January 5 called by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.In case the Centre takes a decision againt the wishes of Andhra and Rayalaseema people, the JAC leaders would be compelled to intensify the agitation to its logical end.

All the political bigwigs from both the regions attended the meeting and prominent among them include Congress leaders M.Buddha Prasad, Devineni Nehru, Malladi Vishnu, TD leaders Muddukrishnama Naidu, Somireddi Chandrasekhara Reddy, Mylavaram MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Nannnapaneni Rajakumari besides a host of other political leaders from the CPM and other parties.The JAC meet elected Prof Samuel of Andhra University as its president. It has been decided to hand over the mantle of the battle to the students and political leaders would guide them from behind.

 Muddu Krishnama Naidu of the TD said that all political parties have been virtually divided into two groups in respect of according separate status to the Telangana. He alleged it was a ploy to weaken the Telugu Desam in the state. The JAC comprises representatives from trade, commerce, employees, and student unions.The leaders who attended the meet demanded a white paper on the funds spent on Telangana and other regions. They were unanimous about intensifying the agitation to keep the state united at any cost.