Andhra shutdown affects normal life

The day-long shutdown called by the Left parties in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday to protest the "injustice" meted out to the state in the Union Budget 2018-19 evoked total response, affecting normal life.

Buses of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were off the roads while educational institutions, petrol bunks, banks and commercial establishments remained closed.

Officials said the shutdown was peaceful amid tight security arrangements. No untoward incident was reported from any place.

The CPI, the CPI-M and several other smaller parties called the shutdown while the YSR Congress, the Congress and the Jana Sena extended their support.

The workers of ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also staged protests in various parts of the state to express solidarity with its MPs, who have continued their protest in both the Houses of Parliament to demand "justice" to the state.

The government had declared a holiday for schools as a precautionary measure. Police had made elaborate security arrangements.

Leaders and workers of the Left parties took to the streets since early morning, staging road blockades. Raising slogans against the Modi government, they laid siege to the APSRTC depots and did not allow the buses to come out.

The protest led to tension at few places. In Eluru town, police arrested the protesters when they tried to barge into a bus depot.

In Vijayawada, leaders of the Congress and the YSR Congress participated in the protest.

YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy halted his ongoing 'padyatra' in Nellore district to show solidarity with the shutdown. He, along with some students, held placards demanding justice to Andhra Pradesh.

The parties in the state are protesting lack of focus on Andhra Pradesh in the Budget and the Central government's failure to properly implement the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

--IANS

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