BJP, Maoist bandh evokes minimal response

Hyderabad, Mar 14 (UNI) The bandh call given by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Maoists in the Telangana region to protest the delay in forming a separate Telangana State, evoked a minimal response today.

The BJP also demanded a statement on Telangana by UPA Chairperson and AICC President Sonia Gandhi, who is on a day's whirlwind visit to the State today.

Barring a few minor incidents like road blockades and obstructing vehicular movement, the bandh call did not have much impact so far.

Buses, autorickshaws and private vehicles were plying as usual.

Government offices, hotels and other business establishments were functioning normally.

APSRTC sources said BJP workers damaged three buses in the city.

However, 90 per cent of its city services were plying as usual. In the ten districts in Telangana region, 70 per cent bus movement was reported.

The BJP cadres were prevented by the police from obstructing movement of bus at the bus depots in the districts and their stone throwing did not cause any damage to the buses.

Reports said the BJP cadres were forcibly closing down business establishments in the Telangana region.

BJP National Secretary N Indrasena Reddy, BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy and party workers were taken into custody when they tried to obstruct vehicular movement in Dilsukhnagar and other areas in the city.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order.

However, the second year intermediate public examination and vocational courses examinations, scheduled to be held here today, had been postponed to Sunday in the State in view of the bandh.

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