A bandh call was given by APNGOs for 48 hours and by YSR Congress party for 72 days in protest of the Union Cabinet approval of Telangana State.  The bandh started on Friday is continued on Saturday. Commercial establishments and educational institutions remained closed for the second successive day.

Additional forces are deployed at the residences of the Ministers and other elected representatives, as told by the IG Dwaraka Tirumala Rao.  He warned the protests if the activities are peaceful then there will not be any police action but if they turn violent then the police will certainly swing in to action.  Incidents of attacks on private and public properties are reported here and there.  Mostly the offices of the ruling congress party and the residences of the party leaders were targeted on Friday.

APSRTC employees have been observing strike in Seemandhra since mid August because of which Tirupati that must have been thronged by the devotees by now as it is weekend and also as the Brahmotsavams started is wearing a deserted look.  And the pilgrims already reached are facing problems.

-SriJa