The state-wide bandh, called by main opposition YSR Congress demanding that the Centre grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh, affected normal life with business activity coming to a standstill and educational institutions remaining shut. Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party MLA from Ponnuru in Guntur district sat on a day-long “deeksha” at the statue of Acharya N G Ranga in the town demanding that the BJP government honour its promise and grant special status to AP. In Vijayawada, YSRC workers were taken into custody when they staged a protest outside the bus station and prevented movement of buses. “It is the responsibility of the Centre to support the state by all means as it suffered heavily because of the irrational bifurcation,” Narendra said. State Road Transport Corporation suspended its services as a precautionary measure to prevent any damage.

Source: Indian Express August 02, 2016 06:56 UTC