Hyderabad: YSR Congress Party senior leader and MLC Ummareddy Venkateswarlu alleged that Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu tried to disrupt the state-wide bandh that was being observed. He told media here today that the bandh call given by Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti (SCS Committee) was supported by YSRCP, the Left parties, Jana Sena, people's organisations and general public.

Ummareddy recalled that at the end of Budget sessions in Parliament, YSRCP MPs resigned and sat on an indefinite hunger strike. Expressing solidarity with them, state-wide protests and relay fasts were held by YSRCP cadre. He accused Chandrababu of getting leaders who participated in state bandh arrested and forcibly sent to police stations. "This explains the AP CM's sincerity towards the welfare of the state and its people."

The YSRCP MLC said that Chandrababu was adopting double standards. There was no reaction from him when the YSRCP called the TDP MPs to resign and join them in indefinite hunger strike, he said and added that if they too had joined in the protest, the Centre would have yielded to the demands. He called upon AP CM to at least now ask his MPs to resign and get ready for the fight against the central government.

He was surprised over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision take up a one-day fast against the Parliament not being allowed to function. He asked whether it was not the responsibility of the PM to see that the Parliament functions normally. He recalled that the earlier government had suspended the members who had disrupted the parliament and continued with the session. "It was shameful for the BJP and PM to sit on fast after having failed to handle the Parliament functioning."

He wondered as to who Chandrababu was taking up the one day fast programme against. He suggested that instead of fasting, TDP could have joined in support of the bandh, since the YSRCP was observing bandh for the benefit of the state, he added.