Bharat Bandh gets mixed response in Guntur

Guntur: The Bharat Bandh observed by the Congress, Left parties and ruling TDP against hike in petrol and diesel prices got mixed response in Guntur district on Monday. All the educational institutions were voluntarily closed and declared a holiday.

All the shops and business establishments, petrol bunks and hotels functioned as usual. Banks and insurance company offices remained opened. Normal life remained unaffected due to bandh. However, no untoward incidents reported in the district as police made elaborate security arrangements and set up police pickets at all important centres. 

CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna, party assistant secretary Muppalla Nageswara Rao and CPM district secretary Pasam Rama Rao staged a protest at NTR Bus Station and stopped RTC buses. They raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi government.

Speaking on the occasion, CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna warned that the electorate will teach a fitting lesson to the BJP led government at the Centre for implementing anti-people and anti-farmer policies. CPI district secretary Janga Ajay Kumar, CPM district secretary Pasam Rama Rao protested at the NTR Bus Stand for one hour. Later, they pulled the two-wheelers with a rope protesting the hiking of petrol and diesel prices. 

Meanwhile, the TDP leaders separately staged a protest at NTR Municipal Corporation Stadium in Guntur city opposing the hike in petrol and diesel prices. Holding placards, Guntur Mirchi Yard chairman Mannava Subba Rao and TDP minority cell leader Lal Vazeer protested at NTR Municipal Corporation stadium and raised slogans against the Centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Mannava Subba Rao warned that voters will teach a lesson to the BJP in the coming general elections. He said that the common man was already overburdened with price hike. 

Congress leaders led by AICC secretary Mastan Vali, former minister Kanumuri Bapi Raju , DCC president Makkena Mallikarjuna Rao staged a sit-in protest at NTR Bus Station main gate and stopped the RTC buses. Later, they came to Brodipet flyover bridge and staged a rasta roko.

Speaking on the occasion, J Mastan Vali condemned the anti-people policies of the BJP government and opposed hike in petrol and diesel prices. 
Former minister Kanumuri Bapi Raju said that there was no need to hike petrol and diesel price hike.

Meanwhile, Jana Sena leaders protested at Sankar Vilas Centre opposing petrol and diesel price hike. Jana Sena leader Mada Radha said that the Central government hiked petrol and diesel prices irrationally and imposing unbearable burden on the common man. 

Later, police shifted Matan Vali, Kanumuri Bapi Raju, VGM UDA former chairman Srinivasa Reddy, Jana Sena leader Mada Radha to Arundalpet police station and released them later.