Tension prevailed at the Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam as police foiled an attempt to conduct an opposition-backed 'silent protest' to demand special status for Andhra Pradesh. Scores of students, youth and activists were detained.
Protestors including leaders and workers of opposition parties were detained by the police in several other towns including Vijayawada, Guntur, Nellore, Tirupati and Anantapur. The protest, planned along the lines of the Jallikattu stir in Chennai, had the backing of YSR Congress Party and Jana Sena Party.
Section 144 has been imposed in Vizag from Wednesday night till Friday morning. Police said the protesters had not obtained prior permission. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naid had earlier made it clear that the government would not allow the protest on the beach.
Meanwhile, police sent back YSRC leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to Hyderabad after not allowing him to leave Visakhapatnam airport on Thursday. The Leader of Opposition along with some other leaders were forced to board a Hyderabad-bound flight Thursday evening. Reddy came to the city to lead a candle light protest at the RK beach.
Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan had earlier offered the support to the protest on social media. "When Tamil people can fight so much for a tradition, how strong should be our fight for our requirements?" he had asked in a tweet.
In another tweet on Wednesday, Kalyan said: "If Central Govt & State Govt stops the peaceful protest-tomorrow then be prepared for a long drawn 'Battle of Andhras' for their rights."
The actor-turned politician, who had teamed up with TDP and BJP for a successful campaign in 2014, is clearly taking a separate path, probably preparing for his entry into politics.
Jaganmohan Reddy had announced that his party’s MPs would resign by the end of June and fight the by-elections if the state’s demand for special status was not met. He had even asked the chief minister to withdraw his party ministers in the union cabinet if Centre did not agree to their demand.
(With inputs from IANS)
