Are you happy with the Union Budget?
This was the question news channels and reports had asked the nation and experts. While some said yes, this state has expressed its displeasure through a bandh.
Left parties in Andhra Pradesh have called for a state-wide bandh today to protest against the “anti-people” Union Budget 2018. Alleging that huge sums were given to other states because of the upcoming polls, the parties slammed the Centre for the “injustice” meted out to Andhra Pradesh.
In a press release jointly issued by the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) as well as students’ and labor organizations, people have been asked to participate in large numbers to make the bandh a success. They also added that the budget this year neglected the rural economy.
Disappointed with the budget, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu had also called for a special party meeting to review the party’s ties with its ally BJP. “The CM has asked the MPs to use all means possible to put pressure on the Centre and highlight our problems, including disrupting Parliament even if they face the possibility of suspension. The CM said he is committed to maintaining the coalition dharma, but the protests for justice for Andhra Pradesh should now be out in the open, rather than just sending requests and appeals,” said Kambhampati Rammohan Rao, TDP Central Committee member after the meeting.
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HERE ARE THE UPDATES:
11:08 AM
08 Feb, 18
Left parties have called for a complete shutdown in the state in the wake of the recently announced Union Budget. Major political parties including YSRC, Congress and Janasangha have extended their support to the bandh. Schools and colleges in the state are shut. High level of security deployment is in place.
10:48 AM
08 Feb, 18
Protests outside Parliament too
Outside the Parliament, TDP MPs protests demanding a special package for Andhra Pradesh.
10:42 AM
08 Feb, 18
Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has also called for protests across the state to express solidarity with its members, who have been trying to disrupt the Parliament proceedings to demand justice to the state.
10:21 AM
08 Feb, 18
Pawan Kalyan’s Janasena also participates in the protest
Actor Pawan Kalyan also extended his support to the shutdown in the state. His also asked his Janasena party cadres to take out a peaceful protest in the state.
10:15 AM
08 Feb, 18
Budget 2018: No allocation to railway projects in state, alleges TDP leader
TDP leader and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Y. Sujana Chowdhary said that the budget has let down the people of Andhra Pradesh, reports news agency ANI. Chowdhary also added that the budget should have made allocations for Polavaram project, development of new state capital Amaravati, the Visakhapatnam Metro Project and the Visakhapatnam Railway Zone.
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10:09 AM
08 Feb, 18
CM Chandrababu Naidu had been visibly upset after the Union Budget 2018 was announced. “I am sticking to the coalition dharma and keeping quiet. I am also restraining my colleagues from speaking out against the BJP. But if they do not want us, I will say ‘namaste’ and walk away,” he had said.
9:52 AM
08 Feb, 18
No classes at Andhra University
Andhra University in Visakhapatnam has also announced that classes would be suspended today, a report in a national newspaper read. Registrar V. Umamaheswara Rao in a statement said that the classes were being suspended to avoid inconvenience to students. No classes would be held at all colleges of AU and its affiliated institutions.
9:36 AM
08 Feb, 18
Schools reportedly shut in the state
According to a report in an online magazine, schools in the state are also shut today. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to maintain the law and order situation. The officials have been directed to keep a strict vigil to prevent any untoward incident or damage to public property.
9:29 AM
08 Feb, 18
“Not only are the CM and TDP leaders upset with the BJP for ignoring Andhra Pradesh, even the common man knows an injustice has been done. The state has lost revenue base post-bifurcation, as Hyderabad has gone to Telangana. It needs hand-holding by the Centre for a few years, till the revenue deficit comes down and the state is up and running,’’ said Kesineni Srinivas, TDP MP from Vijayawada, last week.
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9:20 AM
08 Feb, 18
Following bifurcation of the state in 2014, TDP leaders have often alleged step-motherly treatment by the Centre in the allocation of funds and incentives. The state also believes that the Centre was not giving adequate funds for construction of its new capital, Amaravati.
9:12 AM
08 Feb, 18
The Congress party and YSR Congress Party will also take part in the protest.
9:03 AM
08 Feb, 18
Auto union extends support to the bandh
Auto services may also be hit as a part of the ongoing protests with the union extending its support. A few auto drivers said that they would support the bandh and stay off the roads for some time, reports a national news agency.
8:45 AM
08 Feb, 18
More than 1300 APSRTC buses have been stopped in Visakhapatnam, reports a national news agency.
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