Road blockade brings AP to a halt

Vijayawada: Right from Srikakulam to the far south Chittoor and Anantapuram districts, the activists of various political parties, including those of Telugu Dsam Party held up vehicular traffic on the national highways on Thursday, building pressure on the Centre to deliver Special Category Status and promises made in the AP State Reorganisation Act, 2014.

However, at many places parties organised rasta-rokos with their own activists without joining hands with others. At a few places, only CPI and CPM activists were seen with YSR Congress party workers.

Noticeably, the police remained passive and did not file criminal cases against the activists for obstructing the traffic since the ruling TDP was also supporting the blockade of the national highways. In Guntur, YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy participated in the blockade in Guntur city. Left parties, YSRCP and Congress activists blocked the highway at Ankireddypalem Y junction in Guntur city.

In Tirupati, YSRCP and the Left parties detained the traffic, including at places like Naravaripalle, the Chief Minister’s home village. The Police arrested protesters at many places and shifted them to police stations. The followers of CPM played kabbadi on the highway near Tanapalli crossroads. At a few places, TDP leaders were also present in the agitation as per their party direction. At Tanapalli crossroads Congress leaders Ninanru Srinivasulu and Narasimhulu and other leaders were also present in the blockade.

In Visakhapatnam, CPM, CPI, Jana Sena, Lok Satta, Aam Aadmi Party and YSRCP and leaders of North Andhra Porata Samithi blocked the National highways at various junctions after the SSC examination commenced.

The main junctions like Anakapalli, Lankellapalem, NAD crossroads, Akkayapalem, Seetammadhara, Maddilapalem, Isukatotha, Madhurwada and Gajuwaka areas by forming human chains for half an hour at every junction. Traffic came to a halt for nearly three kilometres on Vizag-Vijayawada Highway after the CPM and CPI leaders staged a rasta roko at Nakkapalli junction.

At Rajamahendravaram, traffic was stalled on the national highway for two hours after all parties staged rasta-roko on the national highway at Morampudi junction on Thursday. Meanwhile, TDP followers also staged a rasta-roko at Lalacheruvu. In Prakasam, Kadapa and Nellore districts too, the works of the Opposition parties came out in large numbers and held up the vehicular traffic.

In Nellore, YSRC workers spilled onto the roads and stopped all vehicles on the busy Chennai- Kolkata national highway. The Police took the Left-wing party leaders and YSR Congress leaders into custody at several places.