Andhra turns 50, TRS observes bandh

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday asserted his government's commitment to ushering in all round development of the state as dreamt by the great founders of 'the first linguistic state in the country'.

Participating in the golden jubilee celebrations of the state's formation, the chief minister recalled the great sacrifices made by various leaders, including Potti Sriramulu, who laid down his life and first chief minister of Hyderabad state B Ramakrishna who sacrificed even the high office for realising unified Andhra Pradesh.

"My government is fully committed to realising all round progress of the state, including industry and agriculture, uplifting the weaker sections and delivering good governance. Let us all dedicate ourselves to turn the state into a Haritha Andhra Pradesh," he exhorted the people on the occasion and committed himself to protect the secular traditions of the state.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi observed the occasion as 'Telangana Betrayal Day' holding bandh in 10 districts of the Telangana.

Hundreds of TRS actvists, including party legislators, were arrested for forcing shops to down shutters and obstructing bus and train services.

At Hyderabad, former minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, MLA, who led the protest and other activists were arrested.

In Nalgonda party MLA Dr G Nagesh who led the agitation alleged that Telangana was wronged of its rightful share of the state's resources.

In Khammam, the agitation turned violent when TRS activists stoned some buses. Police cleared the activists.

Party official spokesperson Madhusudhanachary told UNI that thousands of party workers who were agitating "peacefully" were arrested by the police.

He claimed that the bandh was total in all the 10 Telangana districts. Except for a few minor incidents, the bandh was totally peaceful.