Sonia to visit AP amid Oppn protest

Hyderabad, Mar 13 (UNI) Even as the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh is gearing up to roll out a red carpet welcome to All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Sonia Gandhi tomorrow, the Opposition parties had announced protests coinciding with her visit.

Mrs Gandhi would make a whirlwind visit to the state amid tight security.

While the main Opposition TDP announced protests to oppose the removal of the name of former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao, decided by the previous TDP Government for the domestic terminal, the BJP called for a 'Telangana Bandh' opposing the delay in the formation of separate Telangana state. The Maoists had also given a 'bandh' call in the Telangana region.

Mrs Gandhi would inaugrate the Pushkara Lift Irrigation Project and a photo-exhibition on the project in Purushothapatnam in East Godavari district.

Later, she would address a public meeting at Jeggampeta in the same district, where she would launch an insurance policy 'Aam Admi Bheema Yojana'.

She would make an aerial survey of the Devadula Irrigation Project in Warangal district in Telangana region and also of the works of Polavaram Irrigation Project in West Godavari district.

Mrs Gandhi would then fly to Shamshabad on the outskirts of the city to inaugurate the Rajiv Gandhi International (Greenfield) Airport (RGIA).

UNI SM/BR RSA RAI2139