Left parties stage protest demanding Special Status

Vijayawada: The leaders of the Left parties were arrested by police here on Tuesday for staging a protest in front of All India Radio (AIR) station demanding the Special Category Status (SCS) for Andhra Pradesh.

CPM leaders Ch Babu Rao, Donepudi Kasinath, K Sridevi and Vishnuvardhan, CPI leaders Donepudi Shankar, G Koeswara Rao and Durga Bhavani staged protest along with a large number of party activists.

All the leaders were arrested by police and shifted to various police stations under the limits of the Commissionerate. Tension prevailed for some time when the rank and file of Left parties and police entered into a scuffle at the time of arrests.

The activists raised slogans against the Centre. They also criticised the State government for suppressing the political parties whenever they raise voice for protecting interests of the State.

They said that the government was playing a dual role. How the same State government was demanding the SCS and also blaming the Centre, they wondered. The leaders asked the government to stop arresting people who demand SCS.

Meanwhile, CPM state committee secretary P Madhu condemned the arrests of leaders of the Left parties. The State government was continuing its alliance with the BJP even when the latter was neglecting the interests of the State, he flayed. However, the police released the arrested leaders in the evening.