JOIN USThe YSR Congress’ bandh demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh was total on Tuesday with educational institutions and businesses shutting down and buses staying off the roads.
Addressing the media at his party headquarters here, YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy called the bandh a great success, as he vowed to continue the fight for the Special Category Status (SCS).
“We had to fight with the government machinery,” Jagan said. “Police unleashed terror and agitators cane charged in several places.”
Jagan accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of holding back his party workers from participating in the day-long bandh. Police detained several YSR Congress workers in many areas as they tried blockading bus depots. Security was provided for inter-state buses plying from Vijayawada Central bus station, where several YSRC, Congress and left party workers were arrested Tuesday morning for stopping buses.
The bandh was partial in Tirupati, where former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy and YSR Congress’ Chandragiri MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy were arrested for holding a rally.
MPs disrupt Lok Sabha for 2nd day
Noisy sloganeering from Andhra Pradesh MPs in Lok Sabha on Tuesday prompted the government to assure them it would consider granting special category status to the state, DHNS reports from New Delhi.
“Some members have concerns over particular issues. The government stands by its commitment. We are trying to find a solution to these issues,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in an attempt to pacify the MPs.
MPs from TDP, a constituent of the ruling NDA, and opposition YSR Congress screamed slogans and held placards demanding special status. The protests prompted Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House twice, but the MPs resumed the commotion when it reconvened.
MPs are protesting for the second day in Lok Sabha over the government’s delay in giving special status and additional financial compensation to AP following its bifurcation to create Telangana. When the Lok Sabha convened for the day’s business, YSRC MPs, led by Y S Avinash, trooped into the well of the House raising slogans. TDP MPs followed suit, but held their protests from the aisle.