Remembering the hero who fasted for Visakhapatnam Steel Plant

In Guntur, where Amrutha Rao spent his early child hood, a bronze statue and a park named after Rao was set up in the year 2008.

It was on October 14 in 1966, the former MLA of Tadikonda constituency in Guntur district T. Amrutha Rao launched an indefinite fast demanding the then Central government to set up a Steel Plant at Visakhapatnam.

Rao fasted for 20 days at Visakhapatnam and what began as a peaceful protest soon changed its course and became violent. Seventeen persons died in mob violence and properties of Railways and Central government establishments were destroyed.

Even as the State had been gripped by violence, slogans stating “Save Amrutha Rao,” “Visakha Ukku-Andhrula Hakku,” rented the air.