File photo: Bandh in Vijayawada
After two days of protests, it's a calmer Sunday for the Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh. The 13 districts of Seemandhra, as the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions are jointly called, witnessed total shutdown over the last two days following the 48-hour strike called by anti-Telangana protesters against the cabinet decision to carve out a separate state from Andhra Pradesh.
However, power situation has not improved in the region as six of the seven units of power station in Vijayawada are still shut after employees there refused to end their strike.
"The 48-hour bandh call got over at 6 am today, but we've extended our strike indefinitely. Our intention is not to interrupt power supply, but we want to save our Andhra Pradesh. And this is the only way we have. Some Express and local trains are affected," said one of the employees.
Andhra Pradesh needs 5000 MW of power daily and the Vijayawada plant generates 1700 MW. So, the strike has led to huge power cuts in Vijayawada and neighbouring areas. Seven passengers trains have been cancelled while many others are running behind schedule.
Meanwhile, in Vizianagaram, a town in coastal town Andhra Pradesh, curfew has been imposed in the wake of large-scale violence by anti-Telangana protesters. Shoot at sight orders have been issued in the area, police said. People have been directed not to come out on the roads without permission.
"Lot of violence was reported, with the protesters indulging in arson, setting a bank on fire, and damaging public and private properties. In view of the violence, authorities ordered a curfew late last night," Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, IGP (North Coastal Zone), said.
The cabinet decision on Thursday led to a lot of political churning in the state with three Union ministers from Andhra Pradesh, K Chiranjeevi, Pallam Raju and Kotal Surya Prakash Reddy, submitting their resignations. These central ministers say they are deeply offended by the cabinet's decision.
YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy is on an indefinite strike in Hyderabad to protest against the Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. Stepping up his attack against Congress, Mr Reddy said, ""Someone wanted their son to become PM and divided the state," referring to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and her son Rahul, who is No. 2 in the party.