Responding to the 48-hour bandh call given by the APNGOs and a few political parties, the city shutdown was total for the second day in succession. The aggressive whiplash over Union Cabinet’s decision on Thursday to proceed with the bifurcation of the State continued.
Members of the APNGOs Association and the Student JACs vowed to take the agitation forward till all the 20 MPs and nine Union Ministers tendered their resignations.
Addressing the mediapersons during a dharna at Benz Circle, the APNGOs Krishna District Convener A. Vidyasagar pointed out that the only option left was to bring down the UPA Government and that was possible only when all MPs and Union ministers from the Congress Party resign from the Government.
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The bandh was complete, as even medical shops at many places did not open. A few residents were also found complaining that essential commodities were in short supply, due to the blockades at the strategic points on the NH No.5 and 9.
Apart from taking out motorcycle rallies, almost all the JACs such as Autonagar Mechanic JAC, Student JAC, Teachers JAC, APGENCO JAC and the APNGOs organised blockades at strategic points such as Benz Circle, Autonagar Gate, Ramavarapadu Ring, Gollapudi Junction, NTR Circle, Ibrahimpatnam Circle and Eluru Road, paralysing the normal traffic almost till evening. Student JAC led by Devineni Avinash organised a massive motorcycle rally with over 500 motorcycles.
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The rally started at Benz Circle and ended at Eluru Road.
For a change the busy Bandar and Eluru Roads wore a deserted look. Many were seen playing cricket and the local ‘seven stones’ game on the roads, after blocking the thoroughfare with their bicycles and motorcycles. When asked the youth responded that it was their way of protest.
One unique aspect to Saturday’s bandh was that the agitators even enforced blockades at the entrance of smaller lanes and by-lanes.
“We have been on the roads without salaries for the last two months and none bothered to take our consent.
It was a one-sided decision and a very raw deal for the eight-crore Telugus,” said a visibly upset Mr. Vidyasagar.