Vijayawada, December 18: The 48-hour bandh in Krishna district, called by Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading protest against the arrest of fasting Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Mylavaram Legislator Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and party State Secretary Bonda Umamaheswara Rao at Zilla Parishad Guest House here yesterday, began this morning.
The JAC, consisting of different political parties spearheading agitation for unified Andhra Pradesh, has called the bandh from 0600 hrs today to December 20 morning.
All educational institutions, commercial establishments, central and state government offices, banks, Post Offices, cinema theatres and hotels will remain closed in view of the bandh.
However, essential services like water supply, milk and power are exempted from the bandh.
Police had made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident, sources said.
Krishna region of APSRTC had announced that it would suspend the bus services in the district during the bandh period.
Railway sources said the trains were running as usual.
Meanwhile, JAC Chairman Mandali Buddha Prasad and other leaders said the 48-hour bandh call was a signal to the government, particularly the police, to stay away from arresting the Vijayawada Congress Lok Sabha Member Lagadapati Rajagopal who is on a fast-unto-death at Swaraj Maidan for last five days.
Talking to reporters from the dias on which he has been on fast, Mr Rajagopal said he would continue his fast untill the Centre gave a categorical statement that the process of creating a separate Telangana state was stopped.
”If the police disturb my fast, I will continue the agitation in Gandhian way at another place,” he said. Doctors, who examined Mr Rajagopal at the fasting venue, said his blood pressure and sugar levels were normal.
Meanwhile, the JAC leaders announced that they would lay siege to the National Highways at Hanuman Junction, Nandigama, Jaggayyapet, Gudivada and Pamarau in the district.
The leaders also called for a 48-hour bandh in the neighbouring Guntur district from today in favour of integrated Andhra Pradesh.
——-Agencies