Good response to Bharat Bandh in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: The Bharat Bandh call given by the Congress and Left parties demanding the government to control the skyrocketing fuel prices got a good response in Visakhapatnam district. Except the BJP and YSRCP all the parties, associations, and people’s organisations supported the bandh.

All the educational institutions including government declared a holiday in view of the bandh. The commercial establishments and small and medium range industries shut their operations. All the private and government-operated vehicles off the roads and all the roads and busy junctions wore a deserted look.

As the APSRTC also stopped the buses, the commuters faced inconvenience with autos and private vehicles owners charging exorbitant charges. The markets including Rythu Bazaars remained closed. The movie theaters suspended the morning shows.

The Congress, CPI, CPM and JSP leaders and activists rushed on to the roads and organised protest rallies and dharnas. The activists demanded both the Centre and the state government should take steps to control petrol and diesel prices.

The Congress party activists organised a rally from party office located at Jagadamba junction to Maddilapalem junction. The Jana Sena Party, CPI and CPM activists formed human chains at various junctions in the city. All the leaders demanded the government to bring the fuel charges also under the GST.

AICC secretary Mariyappa, PCC leaders Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao, party senior leaders B Bhaskara Rao, K Gopal Reddy, Ganga Rao, K Loknatham, M Pydiraju from Left parties, JSP leader T Sivasankar and Y Srinivas, Lakshmi, Ravi from various organisations led the protests.

The people from all walks of life and small, medium scale industries also closed operations till afternoon. As there are no RTC buses, auto-rickshaws and any other public transport, the people suspended their daily works. The attendance at the government offices, banks and at shopping malls was also very thin.