Hyderabad: The indefinite strike by government employees in Seemandhra regions of Andhra Pradesh to oppose the state’s bifurcation is set to intensify with teachers also deciding to join the stir from tomorrow.
As the street protests against the federal government’s decision continued for the 21st day while over 400,000 government employees stayed away from duties for the second week in Seemandhra, as Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions are together known, the teachers also decided to join the protest.
Demanding the fereral government reverse its decision to carve out separate Telangana state, about 250,000 teachers will participate in the strike, said
G Srinivasulu Naidu, a leader of Samaikyandhra teachers’ struggle committee and a member of state legislative council.
The political turmoil following the July 30 decision has badly affected educational institutions and the decision by the teachers is likely to paralyse schools.
The normal life in 13 districts of Seemandhra continued to be hit by protests and the strike, which has paralysed the administration. Over 12,000 buses of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) remained off the roads for the eighth straight day.
In another development, Seemandhra employees of the state secretariat decided to go on an indefinite strike from September 2. The leaders of the employees will serve strike notice today.
They said they would not be deterred by the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) invoked by the state government.
The employees had been staging protests to oppose the state’s division but had not formally joined the strike by their counterparts in Seemandhra.
Their strike will completely bring to halt the work in the seat of governance. The employees yesterday staged a protest on the secretariat premises.
IANS
