With 'Rasta Roko' Oppn intensifies agitation for Special Category Status in AP

Traffic on all national highways came to a halt on Thursday as all opposition parties blocked national highways demanding Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh.The Rasta Roko campaign also found support from ruling Telugu Desam Party which has announced moral support to the call given by opposition parties.

Due to the ongoing SSC exam in the state, the police have announced alternative routes in all major cities including Vijayawada. The Vijayawada police commissioner has urged the people to reach their destinations before 10 am on Thursday and avoid going out till noon, as the Rasta Roko campaign will continue for two hours.

While all the vehicles going towards Hyderabad have been diverted to Sathupalli-Tallada-Khammam- Suryapet, all vehicles going towards east coast have been diverted to Sathupalli-Devarapalli. Traffic towards Chennai has been diverted towards Machilipatnam- Bapatla-Ongole route.

"We will support any political party that comes forward in highlighting centre's step-motherly treatment towards AP. However, I urge everyone to protest in a peaceful manner and not indulge in violence. Wear black badges and protest," chief minister and TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu said. He wanted people to emulate Japanese way of expressing dissent by working and producing more than usual.

Meanwhile, Janasena party chief Pawan Kalyan has urged party cadre to help students reach examination centres and not to stop vehicles ferrying students to their destinations. APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy has said that party leaders will participate in Rasta- Roko near Kanakadurgamma Varadhi linking Krishna with Guntur district.