Hyderabad:
From the Left to the Right, across the spectrum, Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh tried to shut down the state to protest against the recent power tariff hikes imposed by the Congress government. However, their manner of protest ironically seemed to trouble those the most on whose behalf the opposition parties were fighting for.
The shutdown called by the Left parties was supported by the TDP even as the BJP gave a separate bandh call. Leaders and activists gathered outside bus-depots and main roads and stopped hundreds of buses across the state. Worst affected were the middleclass citizens, who use public transport.
Shops and business establishments downed their shutters while some educational institutions had already announced postponing the exams, apprehending trouble.
"I really wonder who they think will be affected by targetting buses, shops, schools and colleges? Isn't it obvious? Is there not a better way of supporting the citizens," asks Vishnu Reddy, who is a private employee in Hyderabad.
Before the April sun heat reached a peak, most leaders courted arrest. Police took CPI State secretary K Narayana and CPM state secretary BV Raghavulu in preventive custody when they tried to hold protests and stop plying of buses.
Chittoor TDP MP Sivaprasad dressed up as what is traditionally called a 'potharaju' and whipped himself on the roads as a mark of protest, demanding that the people should be saved from the power tariff hike, Congress rule and Sonia Gandhi.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had earlier announced some relief and said that there was no hike in power charges for consumers who used upto 200 units per month.
The Opposition, however, demanded a complete rollback of the power tariff hike, saying people were already being burdened by 'fuel surcharge adjustment' (FSA) charges.
The government said that it was already bearing a power subsidy burden of Rs 6,300 crore.
The bandh evoked a mixed response in Hyderabad whereas a report from Visakhapatnam district said the Opposition-sponsored one-day bandh evoked total response. Banks, business establishments, educational institutions, hotels remained closed.
According to Road Transport Corporation sources, city bus services and long distance services were suspended by the authorities in view of the bandh. Government offices and public sector undertakings in the city reported thin attendance.
AP Electricity Regulatory Commission announced a new power tariff order for 2013-14, allowing power distribution companies to levy additional tariff of Rs 6,173 crore on consumers from April 1.
Leaders of TDP, Left, YSR Congress and BJP have also held fasts over the issue.