Seemandhra shutdown brings normal life to a halt

Hyderabad,  Normal life came to a grinding halt in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions of Andhra Pradesh due to the shutdown called to protest possible tabling of Telangana bill in parliament Thursday.

Buses of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) went off the roads in all 13 districts of Seemandhra, as the two regions are collectively called.

Shops, business establishments, petrol bunks and educational institutions remained closed in response to the shutdown call given by Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association, which represents the government employees in Seemandhra. YSR Congress party have announced support to the shutdown.

Raising slogans in support of united Andhra Pradesh, the protesters also staged road blockades on national and state highways, affecting the movement of vehicles. Shutdown hit life in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Ongole, Tirupati, Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa and other towns in Seemandhra.

Terming the Seemandhra bandh in protest against the cabinet nod to the division of the State as total, YSR Congress has questioned why TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu has distanced himself from opposing the division.

"In all the 13 Seemandhra districts the bandh has been a big success with people voluntarily participating in various forms of protests against the Delhi arrogance and expressing solidarity with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy who has been sole leader to fight for the cause of a united state," said Shobha Nagi Reddy.

The bandh has been successful as people of the region have full faith in YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and the way he is trying his best to stop the division.

While YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is leaving no stone unturned to keep the State united and is going round the country meeting leaders of national and regional parties to stall the undemocratic division, TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu, failed to react on such a crucial issue that has seen a wave of protests sweeping across the Seemandhra region.