Andhra Pradesh Thursday celebrated Independence Day amid continuing protests in Seemandhra over the decision to bifurcate the state to create Telangana.
Protests at a few places in the Rayalaseema and Andhra regions, collectively known as Seemandhra, marked the day as police tightened security to prevent any untoward incident.
YSR Congress party legislator Gurunath Reddy tried to disrupt the official celebrations in Anantapur.
Alleging that the ministers failed to stop the division, he lodged his protest by squatting on the ground when Revenue Minister Raghuveera Reddy was addressing the gathering after unfurling the national flag.
In Kadapa, Minorities Welfare Minister Mohammed Ahmedullah, who faced the fury of the protestors a few days ago, stayed away from the celebrations. It was district collector who hoisted the tricolour.
Slogans of "Jai Telangana" were raised by a few people at Gandhi Bhavan, the headquarters of the Congress party in Hyderabad. The party leaders and workers from Seemandhra countered them with 'Jai Seemandhra' slogans.
State Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana, who unfurled the tricolor in the presence of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, his deputy Damodar Rajanarasimha and other leaders, appealed to people to exercise restraint as the division of the state was a sensitive issue.
The chief minister is from Rayalaseema while his deputy hails from Telangana. Satyanarayana comes from coastal Andhra region.
The chief minister hoisted the national flag at the main official ceremony at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad amid tight security.
He received the guard of honour and reviewed various contingents of police, Home Guards and students.
The chief minister avoided any reference to the state's division. Claiming that his government's aim is to help the poor, he spoke about the various welfare and development schemes being implemented.
Kiran Reddy said the state was expecting good crop this season as the good monsoon had filled most of the reservoirs. "This has also helped the state tide over the electricity shortage."
The chief minister said the government had launched 'Bangaru Talli', a scheme to provide financial aid to girl child from her birth till completion of her education. He also announced that the pension of freedom fighters would be increased from Rs.4,000 to Rs.7,000.
The state ministers in Seemandhra reluctantly agreed to lead the official celebrations in their respective districts, fearing protests from people demanding their resignation to oppose the state's division.
Government employees in Seemandhra, whose indefinite strike entered the third day Thursday, resumed protests after taking part in the I-Day celebrations. Some employees stayed away from official celebrations, and instead held their own ceremonies.
Over four lakh employees in all nine districts of coastal Andhra and four districts of Rayalaseema are on strike, paralyzing the administration. They want New Delhi to reverse its decision.
For the third day, bus transport remained paralysed in Seemandhra.
Students, employees, workers, lawyers, women and others continued their protests for the 16th day.
Holding national flags, hundreds of them marched on the streets, formed human chains and participated in relay hunger strikes.
Assembly speaker N. Manohar, legislative council chairman A. Chakrapani and Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy unfurled the national flag at the ceremonies in their premises.
Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu hoisted the tricolor at NTR Trust Bhavan, headquarters of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
At YSR Congress party office, honorary president Y.S. Vijayamma hoisted the national flag. At Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) office, party leader N. Narasimha Reddy unfurled the tricolor.
