Andhra suffers from withdrawal symptoms
1 Aug 2013 11:59 PM GMT
Normal life was disrupted in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions on Wednesday as a shutdown began in the two regions against the decision of the Congress and the UPA to create Telangana state.
Educational institutions, commercial establishments remained shut and the services of state-run Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were suspended in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts like Kadapa, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Krishna.
Different outfits supporting united Andhra have called for a shutdown in the region against the decision. The supporters of united Andhra took out rallies and planned to organise other forms of protest. The protesters squatted on the roads and prevented the RTC buses from plying at different places. The APSRTC has suspended its services at some places as a precautionary measure. However, no major incident of violence was reported from the two regions till the morning hours.
In addition to the state police, central paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers in the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts to ensure law and order is maintained, also in view of the panchayat polls. The third and final phase of the ongoing gram panchayat elections also began at 7 am in different districts of Andhra Pradesh and polling has been by and large peaceful, official sources said.
In Vijayawada, students gathered at squares and blocked roads to protest against the decision over Telangana. President of Vijayawada chamber of commerce and industry Velampalli Ramachandra Rao said commercial establishments are closed as traders are also supporting the shutdown. ‘Government employees across the district, except those who are on election duty, abstained from their duties,’ A Vidyasagar, AP NGOs association, Krishna district president said.
The bar association of Vijayawada has appealed to its members to abstain from courts functions. Similar protests were held in Krishna district. In Visakhapatnam, ‘Samaikyandhra’ Students’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) and various other organisations are holding protests.
Educational institutions, commercial establishments remained shut and the services of state-run Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were suspended in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts like Kadapa, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Krishna.
Different outfits supporting united Andhra have called for a shutdown in the region against the decision. The supporters of united Andhra took out rallies and planned to organise other forms of protest. The protesters squatted on the roads and prevented the RTC buses from plying at different places. The APSRTC has suspended its services at some places as a precautionary measure. However, no major incident of violence was reported from the two regions till the morning hours.
In addition to the state police, central paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers in the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts to ensure law and order is maintained, also in view of the panchayat polls. The third and final phase of the ongoing gram panchayat elections also began at 7 am in different districts of Andhra Pradesh and polling has been by and large peaceful, official sources said.
In Vijayawada, students gathered at squares and blocked roads to protest against the decision over Telangana. President of Vijayawada chamber of commerce and industry Velampalli Ramachandra Rao said commercial establishments are closed as traders are also supporting the shutdown. ‘Government employees across the district, except those who are on election duty, abstained from their duties,’ A Vidyasagar, AP NGOs association, Krishna district president said.
The bar association of Vijayawada has appealed to its members to abstain from courts functions. Similar protests were held in Krishna district. In Visakhapatnam, ‘Samaikyandhra’ Students’ Joint Action Committee (JAC) and various other organisations are holding protests.
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