Cyclone Gulab, which lashed the city and the district with heavy rains, also contributed to the success of the Bharat Bandh, with most people opting to stay indoors instead of going out in the rain on Monday. RTC buses remained off the roads till 1 pm, as the state government also supported the bandh organized to protest the ‘anti-people’ policies of the Modi government.
A rally was taken out from Jagdamba Junction to Suryabagh under the aegis of CPI(M) Jagdamba Anchal Samiti.
A large number of people participated in the rally, fighting the incessant rains due to the cyclone. The participants carried banners and red flags, shouting slogans against the central government’s decision on the strategic sale of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) and privatization of other PSUs, against three agricultural laws and ignoring the taxation of people in every possible way. Put it on their hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shopkeepers downed their shutters and expressed their solidarity with the bandh.
Another rally was taken out from Poorna Market to Gandhi statue near GVMC. Party workers, women and representatives of various mass organizations participated in the rally. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has played with the lives of common people, the central government instead of rushing to defend them is financially crippling them with its policies, Students Federation of India (SFI) secretary N. . Ajay Kumar has said. Bandh was organized by SFI in Andhra University.
Addressing the participants, Shri Ajay Kumar said that the ‘Sale of PSUs’, Agricultural Law, New Education Policy (NEP) and hike in prices of essential commodities are a big blow to the common people. He alleged that the Center has unilaterally brought the NEP and the state government is implementing it.
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