Andhra Pradesh shuts down for special category status

The one-day bandh demanding special category status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh affected normal life in all the 13 districts of the state on Monday.

The bandh call was given by all political parties, except the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

Activists from the SCS Sadhana Samithi, YSR Congress, Janasena, CPI, CPM and the Congress took out huge rallies and blocked highways leading to traffic snarls on roads leading to Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and West Bengal.

In Tirupati, activists burnt a motorcycle and sat in front of the Bus Depot stopping buses that were plying to neighbouring states. They, however, did not stop bus services to and from Tirumala.

“The bandh was necessary because the BJP and the TDP cheated the people of the state in the name of a special package in lieu of SCS,” said Bhumana Karunakara Reddy of the YSR Congress in Tirupati.

In Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, theatre owners declared that there will be no movie shows in support of the bandh. Schools, colleges and commercial establishments also remained closed. Bus services have been suspended but train services are on schedule.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu urged activists to maintain peace. Naidu has directed the state police to assist students who are going to attend examinations and other important assignments.

The SCS Sadhana Samithi also urged activists to ensure that the bandh does not affect students' activities.