While the ruling TDP has opposed the call for Andhra Pradesh bandh, several opposition parties including YSRCP, Congress and Left parties have supported the total shutdown call.
Days after the Rail Roko protest staged by the YSR Congress Party demanding special status category for Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh bandh has been called by the Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti. On Monday morning, several groups took it to streets to assert their demand for special category status for the state. People are sitting in protest in Vijayawada, Anantapur, West Godavari and other parts of the state.
While the ruling Telugu Desam Party has opposed the call for Andhra Pradesh bandh, several opposition parties including YSRCP, Congress and Left parties have supported the total shutdown call. The YSRCP alleged that the government has been issuing notices to those supporting the bandh, saying cases would be booked against them.
#AndhraPradesh: Statewide bandh called by Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti over demand of #SpecialStatus for the state. Opposition parties such as YSR Congress Party, Congress & Left parties have extended support to bandh. Early morning visuals from Anantpur. pic.twitter.com/ZGz8ZsCRNM
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2018
The YSRCP has also intensified its protest against the centre. During Budget session, the YSRCP MPs staged a protest outside the parliament and had moved a no-confidence motion against the Centre. By the end of the session, the five MPs also submitted their resignation and staged a hunger strike in Andhra Bhavan.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses to operate only till Andhra Pradesh state border today due to the statewide bandh called in Andhra over the demand of #SpecialStatus for the state.
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2018
On the other hand, Chandrababu Naidu will go on a day-long hunger strike on April 20 demanding the special category status. The BJP leadership slammed Naidu for his decision. BJP State president Kambhampati Haribabu asked why the Chief Minister was going on hunger strike when he himself took exception to the fast observed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 12.
In light of the Andhra Pradesh bandh, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses will operate only till Andhra Pradesh state border today. The Telugu Desam Party opposing the Bandh said that such form of protest stalls development work.
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