Khammam bandh total

Khammam: District bandh called by the All-party Joint Action Committee to bring pressure on the Centre to continue Bhadrachalam revenue division in Khammam district passed off peacefully on Tuesday. The JAC comprising district leaders of the TDP, CPI, CPI (ML-New Democracy), TRS, BJP and a host of other organisations enforced bandh and staged protests at various places in the district opposing the reported move to shift Bhadrachalam revenue division to the Seemandhra region. Normal life across the district was affected as educational institutions, banks, commercial establishments and cinema halls remained closed in response to the bandh call.

The owners of shops and other business establishments downed their shutters in the temple town Bhadrachalam, Kothagudem, Palwancha, Yellandu, Manuguru, Khammam and other towns. APSRTC authorities cancelled several bus services to various places from Khammam and Bhadhrachalam towns in view of the bandh call. Activists of CPI, CPI (ML-New Democracy), TRS and BJP took out a protest rally and formed human chain in Khammam. They raised ‘Jai Telangana’ and ‘Save Bhadrachalam’ slogans. Speaking to the newsmen CPI ML-New Democracy district secretary Potu Rangarao alleged that the Seemandhra leaders were trying to mount pressure on the centre to merge Bhadrachalam revenue division with East Godavari district only for completing the Polavaram irrigation project.

The all-party JAC leaders warned that they would intensify their agitation if the Centre decided to include Bhdrachalam division in the Seemandhra region after State bifurcation. Meanwhile, relay hunger strikes launched by the members of the JACs of doctors, BSNL employees, Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation (APTF) and Government employees demanding the Centre to retain Bhadrachalam division in Telangana region continued on the third day.