Protests across Andhra against Modi’s visit

Amaravati, Feb 10 (IANS) Protests were held across Andhra Pradesh on Sunday to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state.

Wearing black dresses and carrying black flags, protestors took to the streets since early Sunday. Raising slogans of 'Modi go back', the activists of various political parties, student groups and mass organisations staged sit-ins or took out rallies.

Leaders and activists of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Congress, Left parties, employees' and student groups, trade unions and other mass organisations fighting for Special Category Status (SCS) for the state staged the protests in all 13 districts.

Barring the BJP, YSR Congress Party and Jana Sena of actor Pawan Kalyan, all parties called for demonstrations.

Leaders of the Left parties held protests with empty pots in Guntur. They released black balloons in the air to register their protest.

Pratekya Hoda Sadhana Samithi, fighting for SCS, also staged the protest. However, there were no protests near the venue of the rally addressed by Modi in Guntur.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said Modi, who urged people to register their protest, himself wore a black shirt.

He said Modi had no right to visit the state as he 'betrayed' the state by not fulfilling the promise to accord SCS and other commitments made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014.

Irrigation Minister Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao led a protest in Vijayawada. Leaders of TDP participated in the protests in various towns.

Actor Sivaji and his supporters held innovative protest in Vijayawada by remaining in two to three feet water during Modi's three-hour visit to the state.

This is Modi's first visit to Andhra Pradesh after the TDP pulled out of the BJP-led NDA last year.