AP bandh for spl status evokes mixed response

Vijayawada: The state-wide bandh called by the YSR Congress Party demanding the special category status to Andhra Pradesh evoked a mixed response as it passed peacefully without any untoward incident.

Scores of party leaders and workers were either taken into preventive custody or arrested across the State by police. AP DGP J V Ramudu said no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state. Over 1,500 persons including some leaders of the YSRCP were either taken into preventive custody or arrested as a precautionary measure, he said.

YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had cancelled his Delhi tour and held a Cabinet meeting here to foil the day-long shutdown. The bandh in protest against the indifference of State and Central governments in according the special status to Andhra Pradesh has been a grand success across the state with all sections of people voluntarily joining the protest.

YSR Congress strongly condemns the TDP government for its repressive tactics in arresting leaders and cadre as it stands exposed in the eyes of people for its inefficiency, YSRCP said in a statement. Jagan also asked the ruling TDP, a constituent of the NDA, to withdraw its ministers from the Centre for its failure to get the special category status for the state. In Vijayawada, police detained some YSR Congress leaders in advance and some were put under arrest.

However, a senior YSRCP leader alleged that most of the important leaders were either taken into preventive custody or kept in house arrest. In Krishna district, former minister K Parasarathi and former MLA Vangaveeti Radha were arrested while they were holding a dharna at RTC depot. In Nellore district, MP Mekapati Rajmohan Reddy was arrested while In Visakhaptnam district, YSRCP general secretary Vijay Sai Reddy, along with other leaders, was arrested when they were holding dharna at Jagadamba centre.

CPI and CPI(M) leaders joined the bandh and also led protest marches. CPM state general secretary P Madhu joined in the protest march here. APSRTC buses were not allowed to move from depots in many places during morning hours, however, their services were resumed in evening to avoid inconvenience to passengers who were stranded at bus stations, an RTC official said.

The shutdown had no impact on railway services. Educational institutions declared holiday in advance due to Rakshabandhan festival. The bandh was partial in Visakhapatnam as there was no disruption to APSRTC bus services there. demanded that chief minister make his stand clear on the special category status.

We will not leave this government. Naidu failed to get guarantee from the Central government on the special status. We will continue the battle in Assembly also, Jagan told reporters in Hyderabad.

In Rajahmundry, suspected YSRCP activists allegedly attacked a police station and injured four police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, after one of the party members was taken into custody by police. The party activists came in large numbers and attacked Prakash Nagar police station, said A Farheen, DSP (east zone).

PTI