Left, Dalit Unions bandh evokes poor response

- The leaders demanded immediate withdrawal of directions of the Supreme Court on SC/ST Atrocities Act
- Demand the Centre to move a revision petition on the Supreme Court orders which directed not to arrest the accused of SC/ST Atrocities Act

Eluru: The Left parties and Dalit unions’ bandh in protest against the Supreme Court verdict on SC/ST Atrocities Act evoked poor response in West Godavari district.

The police have taken leaders into their custody as a precautionary measure in Eluru. The Left combine formed a human chain at the Old Bus Stand on GNT Road I Eluru, causing a traffic jam in the city.

In Bhimavaram, the Left parties, YSRCP, Congress and Dalit unions took out rally in the town and formed human chain in Prakasam Chowk Centre and later, they submitted a memorandum to Mandal Tahsildar.

In Eluru, the Left combine and Dalit unions’ bandh evoked partial response. The workers reached the RTC bus depot in the wee hours of Monday and tried to obstruct the movement of buses. However, the police reached there and have taken the leaders into their custody. They shifted the leaders to Three town police station. Police arrested B Somaiah (CPM), Badda Venkatrao (CPI-ML New Democracy), Hemashankar (CPI), Jijjuvarapu Jayaraju (Dalita Hakkula Porata Samiti), Bayyarapu Rajeswara Rao (MRPS) and shifted them to Three town police station. The CPI, CPM, CPI(ML)-New Democracy, Dalit union workers rallied in the city as part of bandh.

Some business establishments were closed following the bandh call. However, all schools and colleges functioned as usual. Buses also run as usual. No theatre was closed due to bandh. In the afternoon, the Left party leaders formed a human chain at Old Bus Stand area on GNT Road over one hour. Following the human chain, traffic halted on the GNT Road. Nethala Ramesh Babu (BSP), Bandi Venkateswara Rao (CPI), Mavuri Srinivasa Rao , B Jagannadha Rao (CPM) and others led the human chain on GNT Road.

Addressing on the occasion, the leaders demanded immediate withdrawal of directions of the Supreme Court on SC/ST Atrocities Act. They demanded the Centre to move a revision petition on the Supreme Court orders which directed not to arrest the accused of SC/ST Atrocities Act.

In Bhimavaram, the Left parties, Congress, YSRCP workers and leaders took out a rally against the Supreme Court judgement on the Act. CPM leaders B Balaram, K Raja Ramamohan Roy, CPI leader M Sitaram Prasad and others addressed the workers on the occasion. Later they rallied to Mandal Tahsildar office and submitted a memorandum.