With all parties rallying for a shutdown of the state over the 'injustice' in the recent Union Budget, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu extended his government's support to the 'National Highways blockade programme'.
The bandh, which plans to block roads and railway tracks, was called by the opposition parties including the YSRCP and backed by Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena party.
The main demand of the shutdown, is to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh. Protests are also scheduled to be held for a Railway Zone in the state, with its headquarters at Vizag.
The protests that will be staged, will demand that the Centre fulfil all provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
"Let us all protest and, if required, sit on hunger-strike at every place, sport black badges during working hours in offices. Let us awaken the people. Fight in whatever way, we will co-operate. But, if an impression is created that there is no law and order in the state or that the state is on bandh 24 hours, it could endanger flow of investments into the state. Let us carry this out as a movement till the Centre did justice to the state. There is no compromise on that and I am ready for any sacrifice till justice is delivered to AP," Naidu was quoted as saying.
In a major setback to the BJP last week, the TDP quit the NDA and tabled a no-confidence motion against the Modi government. This had come days after the party pulled out its two Ministers -- Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Chowdary -- from the Modi government on March 8.
On February 28, several students in the state voluntarily boycotted classes, after a call was given by Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students Federation of India (SFI) to protest against the Centre for failing to implement its promises.
On February 8, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist and several other smaller parties called for a shutdown, which was backed by YSRCP and Congress.