Bandh observed in Andhra Pradesh over special status issue

VIJAYAWADA: The day-long bandh called today by opposition parties demanding Special Category State ( SCS) status to Andhra Pradesh, was by and large successful with commercial activities coming to a halt in all the main towns.

Educational institutions, too, remained shut, but the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) managed to run most of its services without much trouble, an Additional Director General of Police said.

Many opposition leaders, mostly those belonging to the YSR Congress, were put under 'house-arrest' since early morning while scores of activists were taken into custody as they tried to organise the bandh.

"No untoward incident was reported barring a minor one in rural Krishna, where the protesters pelted stones at an RTC bus," the police official said.

The YSRC had called the bandh protesting the denial of SCS to AP as promised during the bifurcation. The CPI, the CPM and the Congress extended support to the bandh.

The opposition denounced special economic package announced by the Centre to the state saying it was just an "eye wash".

The Left workers took out a rally in Visakhapatnam and organised a dharna at Maddilapalem. The protesters raised slogans saying SCS was AP's right.

YSRC legislator K Sridhar Reddy said the bandh was a success.

"People of AP have foiled the conspiracies of the Chief Minister by making the bandh a success. Why did Chandrababu Naidu mortgage the state's interests on the SCS issue," Sridhar questioned.