Business grinds to halt in large parts of AP due to Bandh against Telangana
Updated: Oct 04, 2013 04:57:30pm
From Manne Srinivas Rao
Hyderabad, Oct 4 (KNN) The two-day Bandh in protest against the decision of the Union Cabinet to create separate Telangana state in coastal and Rayalaseema parts of Andhra Pradesh has crippled the business and trade activities in major cities and towns of the state including Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
The bandh was called by the Andhra Pradesh Non Gazetted Officers Association (AP NGOs association) along with factions of some political parties which are agitated against the Centre’s decision.
Small businesses including shops and manufacturing units could not open even as national highways and educational institutes remain closed.
All 13 districts of Seemandhra in Rayalseema and coastal Andhra have shut down in protest against the Union Cabinet decision for a separate Telangana state.
“All shops and industries have closed down with business activity coming to a total standstill. Since morning there has been no power in Vijayawada and surrounding areas,” said Secretary, Vijayawada chamber of Commerce and Industries.
The business areas have a deserted look with no sign of vendors and stalls on streets. Hardly any traffic is plying on the streets.
“We too are participating in the bandh. We are appealing to the Central Ministry to roll back the decision approved by the cabinet,” said President of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Muthavarapu Muralikrishna.
Significantly, with CDTA buses halted, there is no transport to Tirumala Hills, a rare occurrence. From the districts of Sri Kakulam to Anantapur, there is a total halt in vehicle traffic, also to the neighbouring states of Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. As a result business activities in these neighbouring states also got affected.
Earlier in July, the core group of the Congress party comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had approved the creation of Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh.
However, that decision, along with the decision of the cabinet yesterday to start the process with the PM appointing a group of ministers in this regard has led to a vertical split within the congress party.
Two of the Central Ministers - Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi and Human Resource Development Minister Pallam Raju have resigned in protest of the division as they stand for a united Andhra Pradesh.
The situation in the state is quit flux and frequent political protests for or against Telangana are taking a toll on the business climate of the state.
It’s been 65 days since the Congress core group approved of the formation of Telangana. Since then there have been various forms of demonstrations – human chains, bike rallies, community kitchens, special prayer, etc across the state, irrespective of caste and class.
Workers have been participating in large numbers, their slogan being – ‘Long live United Andhra.’ (KNN/PC)
Hyderabad, Oct 4 (KNN) The two-day Bandh in protest against the decision of the Union Cabinet to create separate Telangana state in coastal and Rayalaseema parts of Andhra Pradesh has crippled the business and trade activities in major cities and towns of the state including Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
The bandh was called by the Andhra Pradesh Non Gazetted Officers Association (AP NGOs association) along with factions of some political parties which are agitated against the Centre’s decision.
Small businesses including shops and manufacturing units could not open even as national highways and educational institutes remain closed.
All 13 districts of Seemandhra in Rayalseema and coastal Andhra have shut down in protest against the Union Cabinet decision for a separate Telangana state.
“All shops and industries have closed down with business activity coming to a total standstill. Since morning there has been no power in Vijayawada and surrounding areas,” said Secretary, Vijayawada chamber of Commerce and Industries.
The business areas have a deserted look with no sign of vendors and stalls on streets. Hardly any traffic is plying on the streets.
“We too are participating in the bandh. We are appealing to the Central Ministry to roll back the decision approved by the cabinet,” said President of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Muthavarapu Muralikrishna.
Significantly, with CDTA buses halted, there is no transport to Tirumala Hills, a rare occurrence. From the districts of Sri Kakulam to Anantapur, there is a total halt in vehicle traffic, also to the neighbouring states of Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. As a result business activities in these neighbouring states also got affected.
Earlier in July, the core group of the Congress party comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had approved the creation of Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh.
However, that decision, along with the decision of the cabinet yesterday to start the process with the PM appointing a group of ministers in this regard has led to a vertical split within the congress party.
Two of the Central Ministers - Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi and Human Resource Development Minister Pallam Raju have resigned in protest of the division as they stand for a united Andhra Pradesh.
The situation in the state is quit flux and frequent political protests for or against Telangana are taking a toll on the business climate of the state.
It’s been 65 days since the Congress core group approved of the formation of Telangana. Since then there have been various forms of demonstrations – human chains, bike rallies, community kitchens, special prayer, etc across the state, irrespective of caste and class.
Workers have been participating in large numbers, their slogan being – ‘Long live United Andhra.’ (KNN/PC)
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