Protests, shutdown continue in Seemandhra

Protests and shutdown continued for the sixth day in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions Monday against the centre's decision to carve out separate Telangana state.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed while buses of state owned Andhra Pradesh State Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were off the roads in major towns of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra).

Students, government employees, workers, lawyers, political activists and people from other walks of life took out rallies, formed human chains and staged road blockades to demand the UPA government to withdraw its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

The protestors continued to lay siege to the houses of central and state ministers, MPs and state legislators, demanding their resignations to keep the state united.

On a call given by Samaikya Andhra or united Andhra Joint Action Committee, shutdown was observed in Guntur district. Educational institutions called for a shutdown in Visakhapatnam district, where APSRTC employees boycotted their duties, bringing bus transport to a halt.

In Kadapa district 12,000 teachers boycotted their duties. The protestors squatted on Kadapa-Kurnool highway, leading to a long traffic jam.

Protestors laid siege to the house of Central Minister K. Krupa Rani at Tekkali in Srikakulam district, demanding her resignation in support of united Andhra. Auto drivers union took out a rally in Srikakulam town.

Protests and shutdown continued in Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, Tirupati and other towns.