<p> The state-wide bandh, called by main opposition YSR Congress demanding that the Centre grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh, affected normal life with business activity coming to a standstill and educational institutions remaining shut.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Congress and Left parties extended support to the day-long shutdown.<br />Scores of opposition workers were taken into custody by police in several areas across the state as they tried to organise protests and prevent plying of state-run transport corporation buses.<br /><br />State Road Transport Corporation suspended its services as a precautionary measure to prevent any damage.<br /><br />While educational institutions declared a holiday, banks and other commercial establishments did not open their shutters.<br /><br />In Vijayawada, YSRC workers were taken into custody when they staged a protest outside the bus station and prevented movement of buses.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party MLA from Ponnuru in Guntur district sat on a day-long "deeksha" at the statue of Acharya N G Ranga in the town demanding that the BJP government honour its promise and grant special status to AP.<br /><br />"It is the responsibility of the Centre to support the state by all means as it suffered heavily because of the irrational bifurcation," Narendra said. <br /></p>
<p> The state-wide bandh, called by main opposition YSR Congress demanding that the Centre grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh, affected normal life with business activity coming to a standstill and educational institutions remaining shut.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Congress and Left parties extended support to the day-long shutdown.<br />Scores of opposition workers were taken into custody by police in several areas across the state as they tried to organise protests and prevent plying of state-run transport corporation buses.<br /><br />State Road Transport Corporation suspended its services as a precautionary measure to prevent any damage.<br /><br />While educational institutions declared a holiday, banks and other commercial establishments did not open their shutters.<br /><br />In Vijayawada, YSRC workers were taken into custody when they staged a protest outside the bus station and prevented movement of buses.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party MLA from Ponnuru in Guntur district sat on a day-long "deeksha" at the statue of Acharya N G Ranga in the town demanding that the BJP government honour its promise and grant special status to AP.<br /><br />"It is the responsibility of the Centre to support the state by all means as it suffered heavily because of the irrational bifurcation," Narendra said. <br /></p>