Pratyeka Hoda bandh evokes mixed response

Visakhapatnam: The bandh called by the Pratyeka Hoda Vibhajana Hamila Sadhana Samiti (PHVHSS) evoked mixed response here on Friday in Visakhapatnam. The Left party leaders along with women activists and students’ union leaders came on to the city roads supporting the Special Category Status (SCS) demand and special railway zone with Visakhapatnam as its headquarters.

The city police beefed up the security and took the leaders into their custody after they formed a human chain and sat on the National Highways blocking the roads and causing traffic jams. During a dharna at Maddilapalem junction, CPI joint secretary J V Satyanarayana Murthy said the Centre had deceived the people of Andhra Pradesh for the last four-and-half years without fulfilling any promises made during bifurcation of the State and accused the Centre of dragging the special railway zone issue.

He lamented that during vote on account budget, they should have announced the railway zone issue for AP. CPI district secretary B Venkata Ramana said that since last three days, some BJP state leaders announced that the Centre will announce railway zone in the budget.

However, i8n the vote on account budget, the government did not make any mention in it, he pointed out. He said the five-crore people in the State would teach a fitting lesson to it in the ensuing elections and the BJP would face the same fate like the Congress in the last elections for ditching the people on the state bifurcation.

The CPM activists conducted a bike rally from GVMC Gandhi statue to Jagadamba junction carrying the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raised slogans against the Centre for failing to fulfil the promises given during the State bifurcation.

In some areas, the schools, colleges, shops, public and private transportation functioned as usual. The Andhra University postponed its UG examinations and announced revised schedule. As per revised schedule, the examinations will be conducted on February 14 and 19.