A tense situation prevailed at Jagadamba Junction on Friday as YSRC and TDP activists jostled following an argument over the Samaikyandhra agitation. The YSRC activists formed a human chain near the statue of Tenneti Viswanadham and stopped traffic. TDP urban district president Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar and some others came on motorcycles and demanded that they be given way as they were taking out a bike rally.
Tempers frayed as the two groups exchanged war of words. Things would have gone out of control but for the timely intervention of the police. Government hospitals, ESI, PHCs, Government Medical Colleges and teaching hospitals in the Seemandhra region observed bandh. All services such as OPs, operation theatres, and elective services, except emergencies, were suspended, according to P. Shyam Sundar, convener of Samaikyandhra Medical JAC and State secretary (Andhra region) of AP Government Doctors’ Association. Dr. Shyam Sundar said the protesters pulled down the RIMS board and put up “Sikkolu Institute of Medical Sciences in its place.
NGOs went round the city and blocked roads. They also got Central government offices such as LIC, Central Excise, Customs, Post Offices, BSNL closed.