he bandh observed on Saturday in response to a call given by the YSR Congess in support of its demand for Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh was by and large peaceful across the State, barring in Srikakulam district where the party’s top leaders, including three MLAs, were arrested amidst noisy protests.
Tension built up when YSRC MLAs Kalamata Venkata Ramana (Patapatnam), Kambala Jogulu (Rajam) and Viswasaraya Kalavati (Palakonda) were taken into police custody.
In the morning hours, as many as 2,000 activists of YSRC, CPI and CPI-(M) were rounded up while trying to enforce the bandh.
Senior leaders Dharmana Prasada Rao, Tammineni Sitaram, Varudu Kalyani, Reddi Shanti and others strongly criticised the police move. Movement of buses from APSRTC depots at
Srikakulam, Palakonda and Tekkali were stopped and the protesters raised slogans against the Union government for ignoring the legitimate demand of Andhra Pradesh.
The leaders claimed that the bandh was a grand success as schools, colleges, shops and trade and commercial establishments remained closed in support of special category status.
In the temple city, the bandh call evoked a mixed response. The district witnessed peaceful, incident-free demonstrations. Since morning, a good number of protests were focussed on Poornakumbham circle, one of the arterial junctions in the city. YSRC leaders squatted on the road and blocked the area, raising slogans against the 'negligent attitude' of the Central and State governments in according special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Vehicular traffic, barring Tirumala-bound buses, came to a grinding halt at the junction for several hours. The cadres also burnt tyres at the junction to prevent any movement.
Nagari Legislator R.K. Roja, accompanied by party cadres, participated in a bike rally covering all important routes in the city to enforce bandh.
Bandh is the first step in our movement. We'll take support of all sections of the society to achieve the special status.
- Dharmana Prasada Rao,
