Mixed response to bandh for spl status

Vijayawada: The state bandh called by the YSR Congress Party demanding special category status to Andhra Pradesh evoked a mixed response barring stray incidents. Scores of party leaders and workers were either taken into preventive custody or arrested across the state by police.

DGP J V Ramudu said no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state. YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had cancelled his Delhi tour and held a Cabinet meeting here to foil the day-long shutdown. "The bandh in protest against the indifference of State and Central governments in according the special status has been a grand success across the state with all sections of people voluntarily joining the protest,” he said.

APSRTC buses were not allowed to move from depots in many places during morning hours. However, the bus services were resumed in the evening to avoid inconvenience to passengers who were stranded at bus stations, an RTC official said. The shutdown had no impact on railway services. Educational institutions declared holiday in advance due to Raksha bandhan festival.