The bandh call given by the Pratyeka Hodha Sadhana Samiti (PHSS) and supported by the Left parties, the Congress and the TDP evoked partial response. The BJP, the YSR Congress Party and the Jana Sena Party kept away.
TDP people’s representatives blasted the Modi government for not keeping its commitments to the State, including the Special Category Status.
Bus services could not be operated during morning hours as protesters laid siege to Pandit Nehru Bus Station and bus depots.
CPI warning
State Congress president N. Raghuveera Reddy said that the Modi government has cheated A.P. for the last four-and-a-half years and it was high time the Centre woke up and fulfilled its promises.
Mr. Modi had lost his right to visit the State and if he ever wanted to come, he should fulfil the promises first. Mr. Raghuveera Reddy made it clear that the Congress would not join the TDP’s protests in New Delhi.
Chalasani Srinivas of PHSS said that several organisations and employees’ associations came forward voluntarily.
CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said protests would be stepped up if the Centre failed to respond.
Rallies and demonstrations led by MLA G. Rammohan Rao, TDP youth leader D. Avinash, CPI(M) State leader Ch. Babu Rao, Mahila Congress president Sunkara Padmasri and others marked the protests. Mr. Srinivas, Mr. Babu Rao and several other leaders and activists were detained by the police. Mahila Congress leaders also staged a rail roko.
The impact was not felt in the city barring in business centres where establishments were closed for a couple of hours. Many educational institutions functioned as usual.