Kadapa town in Andhra Pradesh witnessed a total shutdown on Friday over the ongoing demand by the state to set up a steel plant in the district.
Protests and demonstrations were staged at several places in the district, even as offices and educational institutes from schools to colleges closed their shutters for a day
All private and public buses operated by the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) also did not move on Friday.
The protests also remained largely peaceful with no untoward incidents being reported.
The call for a shutdown was backed by all parties in the state except the BJP. This included the TDP, YSRCP and the Left parties. Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan also lent support to the bandh.
Speaking to TNM about the bandh earlier this week, CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said, “The Centre is showing its arrogance by denying us the steel plant. First, they denied Special Category Status (SCS) and now the steel plant. The actions of the BJP are condemnable. They are committing injustice against the state.”
CM Ramesh's health deteriorates
Meanwhile, the health condition of TDP MP CM Ramesh, whose indefinite fast entered the 10th day on Friday, continued to get worse.
Doctors at the protest site who checked on his health, advised him against continuing the fast and said that his kidney and liver could get damaged. They also suggested that he must be admitted to the hospital for treatment or he could become unconscious.
Speaking to reporters, the MP said that he was even ready to sacrifice his life for the cause and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a swift call on the steel plant.
Ramesh continued to receive support from various leaders in the party even as TDP chief and Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is expected to visit the protest venue on Saturday.
Reports suggest that Naidu might ask Ramesh to break the fast, in view of his health, by offering him some lemon juice.
Background
The Centre recently withdrew its decision to establish the steel plant claiming that the project was financially unviable. The TDP and other parties in Andhra Pradesh have decided to protest against this statement by the Centre.
TDP had pulled out from BJP led NDA alliance in March this year alleging that the Centre had not fulfilled promises made during bifurcation.
According to provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act 2014 Act, the steel Authority of India (SAIL) had to form a committee and check the feasibility of setting up a steel plant in Kadapa district within six months of formation of the committee.