Gurunath Reddy tries to disrupt Raghuveera Reddy's speech

Andhra Pradesh on Thursday on celebrated Independence Day under the shadow of division, amid unprecedented security.

YSR Congress party MLA Gurunath Reddy tried to disrupt the official celebrations in Anantapur. Alleging that the ministers failed to stop the division, he lodged his protest when Revenue Minister Raghuveera Reddy was addressing the gathering after unfurling the national flag.

Demanding the minister's resignation for the cause of united Andhra Pradesh, Gurunath Reddy squatted on the road. 
Slogans of "Jai Telangana" were raised by a few people during the celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan, the headquarters of the ruling Congress party in Hyderabad.
State Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana appealed to people to exercise restraint as the division of the state is a sensitive issue.
Protests against the centre's decision to bifurcate the state by carving out a separate Telangana marked the celebrations at a few places in the Rayalaseema and Andhra regions.
Police have made elaborate security arrangements in the district headquarters, especially in Seemandhra, to prevent any untoward incidents during official celebrations.
The state ministers, hoisting the tricolour at ceremonies in the different district headquarters, fear protests from people demanding their resignation to oppose the state's division.

Government employees in Seemandhra, who are continuing the indefinite strike, have agreed to participate in I-Day celebrations.

- Sakshipost (With PTI Inputs)