The bandh called by various political parties and organisations representing employees, students, Adivasis and others in protest against the move to transfer areas situated in the Polavaram submergence zone in the Bhadrachalam Agency to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh evoked good response in Bhadrachalam division on Monday.
The three Left parties – CPI, CPI (M) and CPI (ML-New Democracy) besides several other organisations including the Telangana Political JAC have given the bandh call separately demanding withdrawal of the “merger move.” The impact of the bandh was most evident in the temple town as almost all educational institutions, shops and business establishments remained closed.
The APSRTC buses were off the roads till late in the afternoon. The CPI (M) members took out a rally in the town denouncing the Centre’s “merger plan.” The party district secretary P Sudarshan Rao, mandal secretary Narsi Reddy and others took part in the rally. They raised slogans en route the rally blaming the Congress-led government at the Centre responsible for the present “turmoil.” Members of the Adivasi Students JAC led by its State convener Athram Naveen staged a protest demonstration at the Ambedkar Centre. The student activists set afire the effigies of the members of the “Group of Ministers” in a symbolic protest against the Centre’s move to transfer agency areas from Bhadrachalam and Palvancha divisions to “Seemandhra” region. They shouted slogans against Polavaram project and alleged attempts to make Adivasis scapegoats. Activists of Adivasi organisations such as Girijana Sankshema Parishad organised demonstrations demanding shelving of Polavaram Project.
