Opposition bandh total, peaceful

Srikakulam: A total bandh was observed in the district on Tuesday in response to a call by Opposition parties decrying the steep hike in the power charges. Several traders, private institutions, various party leaders and people voluntarily participated in the bandh. They deplored that the prices of all essential commodities had gone up and power which was also essential is being charged exorbitantly. Demanding the government to withdraw this, they said that the unscheduled severe power cuts have put life out of gear. As they staged a dharna in front of the local RTC complex, the traffic came to a standstill. Passengers who have to go to remote areas are facing a lot of problems. They deplored that the Chief Minsiter and other leaders have sold themselves to Reliance companies and that is why there is shortage of power. The roads wore a deserted look on account of the bandh. Activists of the Left parties and YSRCP attacked the Electricity Circle Office and destroyed the furniture and computers. The employees were driven out of the office by the activists. A wordy duel ensued between the activists and the employees for a while. Later, the staff left the office. The various party activists demonstrated in front of the office against the power crisis.

Bus services disrupted Vizianagaram: The bandh observed by Opposition parties in the district was a success. Activists of the Left parties, Telugu Desam and YSRCP participated in the bandh. Though they organised separate programmes, they came together at the RTC bus complex and stopped the buses from leaving the depot. The TDP rally was led by politburo member Ashoka Gajapathi Raju. CPI district secretary Krishna Murthy, CPI district secretary Kameshwar Rao, CPI (ML) New Democracy leader Kalla Sanyasi Rao, CPI (ML) leader Reddy Narayana Rao came to the RTC complex in a procession. They squatted on the road at the four cross roads. The YSRCP activists led by Avanapu Vijay came in a procession to the RTC complex. Even the members of the RTC employees union participated in the bandh. Jute Mills remained closed. All the leaders of various parties called for immediate withdrawal of the hike in power charges and lifting of power cuts.

Peaceful in Kakinada Kakinada: Bandh by Opposition parties on Tuesday was total and peaceful in East Godavari district. Activists of the Left parties mobbed the bus stations quite early in the day and stopped the plying of buses. Nearly 880 buses were confined to the depot causing a loss of Rs 30 lakh, said the East RTC regional manager C Ramakanth. Almost all traders pulled down the shutters voluntarily. Even some public sector undertakings, banks and LIC office remained closed. Educational Institutions declared a holiday. Some 40 activists were rounded up here and later released. Activists of BJP, TDP, YSRCP, CPI and CPM went around on bikes and made the shopkeepers to bring down the shutters. Added to this the summer heat confined people to their houses leaving the roads deserted.

Total in Rajahmundry Rajahmundry: In response to a call by Opposition parties in protest against hike in power tariff total bandh was observed at Rajahmundry in East Godavari district, on Tuesday. All business organisations, institutions, shops, banks, theatres and petrol bunks remained closed and the roads wore a deserted look. Left parties joined hands with the main opposition parties TDP, BJP and YSRCP in making the bandh a success. They demanded rollback of hike in power tariff and warned of intensifying the agitation if it was not abolished. Business establishments on the main road, at Thadithota Deluxe centre, Devi Chowk, Gokavaram and Kotipalli bus depots and stadium road areas, hotels, bars and restaurants remained closed. The TDP activists led by town president Vasireddi Rambabu staged a dharna in front of the RTC complex and shouted slogans in protest against hike in power tariff. They obstructed the RTC bus services in the morning. The YSRCP cadres took out a rally from Kotagummam centre in protest against power tariff hike and MLC Adireddi Appa Rao, party Rajahmundry town convenor Bommana Raj Kumar and party leader Boddu Venkata Ramana Choudary led the rally. The YSRCP leaders came down heavily against the Congress government and expressed anguish over burdening the common people to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees in the name of power tariff hike. The BJP workers led by town BJP president Kshatreeya Bala Subrahmunya Singh organised a motor bike rally in protest against power tariff hike and shouted slogans against the government. The party leaders found fault with the government for cheating SCs and STs in the name of abolition of power charges up to 50 units consumption. Left parties formed human chain at Kotipalli bus stand in protest against power tariff hike. On this occasion, CPM State committee member and former MP Midiam Babu Rao flayed Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for allegedly making irresponsible statements even though people are struggling with power tariff hike and indiscriminate power cuts. He suggested to the chief minister and other ministers to save power by closing AC in their meetings. He warned of disrupting Assembly if the government did not yield on the power tariff hike.