Left Parties in Visakhapatnam call for Bandh on February 8th

As a protest against the central government’s “betrayal” to Andhra Pradesh, the left parties in Visakhapatnam have called for a state bandh on February 8. The parties have urged the people to unite and make the bandh a success.

“None of the aspects in the bifurcation Act are implemented. Even Maharashtra and Karnataka got a better deals than us.The bandh is proposed on Thursday in this background and we request the trade as well as trade unions farmers’ wings, student and youth organisations, Dalit associations and everybody to express their resentment by observing bandh,” CPM State secretariat member Ch Narasinga Rao was quoted as saying.

Reportedly, the leaders of the Left parties, in a statement, appealed to trade unions, merchants associations, farmers associations, students, youth, Dalit and other associations to participate in the bandh and make it a success.

In addition to the Special Railway Zone (with Visakhapatnam as the headquarters), the state government had also urged the centre to release funds for the purposes of Amaravati, Kadapa Steel Plant and a railway division for the stretch between Vijayawada and Guntakal. The centre, however, hasn’t allocated “sufficient funds” and the leaders feel, the Modi government has fallen short of fulfilling the promises made during the state bifurcation in 2014.

The centre’s “apathy” towards Andhra Pradesh is causing a widespread uproar among the state’s leaders and citizens. While the leaders of ruling and opposition parties have come down heavily on the Modi government, the citizens are using social media platforms to vent their anger.