Tirupati: Bandh peaceful in pilgrim city

Tirupati: The bandh called by national farmers' unions and supported by all Opposition parties against the Centre dillydallying on the withdrawal of the controversial farm laws went off peacefully in the pilgrim city on Tuesday.

Activists of the CPM, CPI, DYFI, AISF, AIYF and AP Rythu Sangham in batches moved in city right from morning seeking the traders to close their establishments and also staged rasta roko on the main roads and also on the national highway near here disrupting vehicular movement for some time.

Rallies and dharnas were also held at several places by the Left party activists holding red flags and raising anti-BJP and anti-Modi slogans.

Following the government instruction, APRTC services remained suspended and schools were also closed till 1 pm in the afternoon. Congress activists led by PCC secretary D Rambhupal Reddy including senior leader Penubala Chandrasekhar staged a protest at RTC bus station.

CPI State secretariat member P Haranatha Reddy said that the Centre which diluted PSUs with more and more privatisation in Railways, BSNL and Insurance sector is now hell bent on corporatisation of agriculture unmindful of its disastrous effects on farmers and others who heavily depend on it for livelihood.

Senior CPM leader and Rythu Sangham Chittoor district president K Kumar Reddy leading a dharna at municipal office circle affirmed that the nationwide stir would go on till the Centre withdraws the farm Acts.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and CWC special invitee Dr Chinta Mohan also observed protest from his home. Mohan said the YSRCP and TDP were also responsible for the enactment of the farm laws by the BJP-led NDA government. He lambasted the regional parties for playing a double game.