The protests staged by the representatives of Opposition parties, as a part of the State-wide call to block highways, was focussed on two main aspects in the temple city of Tirupati. Equipped with placards and their respective party flags, protesters chose to highlight the importance of according special category status to Andhra Pradesh, and the focus was equally on its subsequent developments and the demand to fulfil the promises made by the Centre during State bifurcation.
Backed by party cadres, former MLA and Central Committee member of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Bhumana Karunakar Reddy staged a demonstration at Thanapalli Cross here on Thursday, blocking the traffic on the abutting highway. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Reddy said that it was the YSRCP which had emphasised on the need for SCS and alleged that opportunistic ruling party was trying to steal the show.
District secretaries A. Ramanaidu (CPI) and Kumar Reddy (CPI-Marxist) took part in the protest.
Earlier, the protesters arrived at the venue after conducting bike and autorickshaw rallies across the city.
Meanwhile, TDP cadres formed a human chain at Nalugu Kalla Mandapam. Members of Telugu Nadu Students’ Federation (TNSF) performed special pujas at Alipiri and commenced an indefinite fast.
YSRCP cadres joined by the Left parties blocked the NHs at Kuppam, B.Kothakota and Satyavedu in Chittoor district, impacting the inter-State traffic towards Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. At tri-State junction in Kuppam, hundreds of vehicles were stranded.
Worry for students
At V.Kota, a noisy protest on the Chittoor-Krishnagiri-Hosur NH, close to an SSC examination centre, gave some anxious moments to students. However, with the intervention of police, the protesters shifted to another location.
APSRTC Regional Manager Mr. Chengal Reddy told The Hindu that the RTC services were affected between 10.00 am and 12 noon all over the district. “In view of the 10th class examinations, we could run the services to rural areas with police escort,” he said.
Jana Sena activists were also present during the agitations on NHs in Madanapalle and Satyavedu.
