Anti-Telangana protests cast their shadow over the visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Anantapur to attend the concluding function of birth centenary celebrations of former President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy on Monday.
Despite the decision of the police authorities not to permit united Andhra Pradesh Joint Action Committee leaders to meet the President, they tried to reach the venue of his programme to submit a memorandum. Some of the activists were detained by the police.
Police had started rounding up the anti-Telangana activists from Sunday evening as there were apprehensions that they will try to stage protests. Fifty activists including JAC leader G Vijaykumar Reddy were taken into custody.
Police also detained some of the leaders of YSR Congress party on the same ground. Minister S Shailajanath, who was also a member of centenary celebrations committee tried to persuade the police authorities to grant permission to the JAC leaders to submit memorandum to the President. But he was told that the JAC leaders can always meet the president in Hyderabad and present their views to him but no in Anantapur.
However Shailajanath late met the President alone and pleaded him to keep Andhra Pradesh united. “You are aware of the feelings of the people in the region. Majority of the people of the state are against bifurcation”, he told the President.
Addressing the centenary celebrations, Pranab Mukherjee hailed Neelam Sanjiva Reddy as the “main architect” of modern Andhra Pradesh who worked tirelessly for the development and progress of the state and the people. President recalled his services in implementation of major projects like Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam and Sriram Sagar projects and said that it was because of the efforts of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy that AP became the granary of South India.
“Dr Reddy’s message continues to be of relevance today as we confront the challenges that our society is facing. They remind us of the important responsibility that we have as citizens of India. We must embrace the spirit of these guiding words as we pursue our individual goals,” he said.