YSRCP bandh: statewide success
The bandh called by YSRCP to protest against power crisis in the state proved to be a roaring success all over the state.
Party leaders and workers in many villages and towns of all districts turned out in large numbers to voice their protest peacefully and spontaneously. However, the government used police force as a weapon to muzzle the protests in almost all districts of the state.
Scores of YSR Congress leaders and workers were taken into custody at many places while some top leaders of the party were kept under house arrest to thwart the bandh.
Party supporters as well as the public raised slogans against police arrests. They claim that the police is harassing social activists for opposing the government's failure, while the party on its part is only trying to act in the best interests of the common man.
Many leaders questioned police on how the government allowed such elaborate security to the bandh, while protests organised by other parties had not received the same treatment.
They alleged that government was trying to get some political mileage by obstructing a peaceful protest such as this for a just cause.
The YSR Congress party supporters were forcibly evicted by police while squatting in protest against the the government's 'failure' to resolve power crisis.
At several places, the leaders and party workers entered into heated arguments with the police over unreasonable arrests. However, the bandh has been peaceful so far and there were no reports of any major incidents except police ill-treatment at some places. APSRTC services are remained normal in the city, while buses in other districts were confined to the bus depots due to the party leaders and workers staging protests before the depots. No untoward incident has been reported during the bandh.
Bandh status in districts
Srikakulam
In the coastal town of Srikakulam, YSR Congress MLA Dharmana Krishnadas entered into an argument with local police after his wife and party district convenor Padma Priya was taken into preventive custody.
Krishna district
Many leaders, including Krishna district convenor S Udaya Bhanu and Vijayawada city convenor Jaleel Khan were taken into custody. A brief scuffle broke out between a large number of YSRCP supporters and an equal number of police personnel, when the former staged a protest in the district.
A crowd gathered and converged at many junctions to create public awareness about the government's failure to solve unscheduled power cuts.
YSR district
The police detained YSRCP youth wing leader Y.S. Avinash Reddy who was participating in the protest.
Although party workers in the district created traffic bottlenecks, they refrained from indulging in violence. People in Rayachoty, Rajampeta and Kamalapuram enthusiastically responded to the call.
Small establishments like private offices and restaurants in the district have been declared closed till night today.
Only a few banks and petrol pumps were seen functioning, while the rest of them took a day off.
Ananatapur district
All educational institutions, including playschools were shut in view of the bandh call given by YSRCP on Friday.The activists took out a rally across the city. The government schools and colleges in the district remained closed. The bandh is successful even after police arrested as many as 100 YSRCP leaders in the district. While party workers and volunteers were busy protesting against the government's inability to deal with the power crisis, many shops and petrol bunks voluntarily shut their esatblishments down to express their support.
Kurnool
Bandh has been reported to be peaceful in Kurnool. The YSRCP leaders criticized the government saying it lacked any inclination to help farmers which is clearly evident in the unprecedented power cuts. Leaders reminded the government about the rising numbers of farmer suicides in the state and said it was high time it provided some relief to the farmers. Leaders pledged to organise more such protests if the same situation in the state continued.
Hyderabad
A rally at LB Nagar was obstructed by the police and party leader Putta Pratap Reddy was arrested. Party leaders questioned the need to obstruct a peaceful protest for a just cause. Putta Pratap blamed the government for its failure to tackle the issue. Many students on bikes were seen raising slogans against the government.
Chittoor
There was complete support from all quarters for the bandh in Chittoor. The public at large, colleges, shops, hotels, cinema halls and other business establishments positively responded to the bandh call. Most roads wore a deserted look. Party workers,students, supporters and some volunteers took out rallies across the district to protest against the power crisis in the state.
Visakhapatnam
In port-city Visakhapatnam, YSRC workers staged a protest outside a police station after they were taken into custody as part of the crackdown against the bandh.
Many schools in the city remained shut as the managements declared a 'holiday' to support the bandh.
In spite of the fact that the police came down heavily on supporters of the YSR Congress Party, the bandh proved to be a complete success in many parts of the state, notably in the rural areas. This only highlights the failure of the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in meeting the basic needs of the farmers as for as providing the power supply goes.
- Siva@sakshipost
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