Hyderabad: Normal life came to a grinding halt in Andhra Pradesh as a total shutdown was observed in protest against Central government’s “injustice” to the state.

The shut down call given by “Special Category status Sadhana Samiti” was supported by all the major political parties including the ruling Telugu Desam Party, main opposition YSR Congress, Congress and the left parties.

With Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses staying off the roads, lakhs of passengers were stranded at different places. As the Chambers of Commerce also joined the strike, all shops and business establishments were also closed. Employees Unions also supported the buses affecting the attendance in the government offices. Schools and colleges were also closed.

Workers of different political parties also held sit in protest demonstrations demanding justice from the Centre in different cities including Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

The public anger over the failure of Narendra Modi government in giving Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh post bifurcation also reflected in the proceedings of the state legislative assembly where all the TDP members including the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu came dressed in black shirt as a mark of protest. It was for the first time in his almost four and a half decades long public life that Naidu was seen in dress other than his customary light yellow cotton shirt.

“Do you want to eliminate Andhra Pradesh from the map of India? Are you planning to wipe out anybody who speak against you?” an angry Naidu asked while addressing the state assembly session.

Lashing out at the BJP government at the centre, Naidu wanted to know what exactly the Modi government had done for the state during last four and a half years.

He went to the extent of naming the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu saying he was the only important leader of the BJP in the south but he too was sent out of the cabinet by making the Vice President. “Was it punishment or promotion?”

“Do you think the Telugu people don’t have self respect and honour”? he asked the Centre. “Are we not paying taxes to the Centre”. He said compared to Gujrat Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh was not given any assistance by the Centre. Pointing out that massive funds were given to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and other cities, “do you think whose father’s money is this”?

In an unprecedented outburst Naidu also asked the BJP’s floor leader in the state assembly Vishnukumar Raju to shut up when he claimed that Centre had given more than promised to Andhra Pradesh.

Charging the BJP with doing grave injustice and discrimination against the southern states Naidu recalled that during the Congress rule if the Prime Minister was from North India, President will be from southern Indi.

Denying any U turn by him on the issue of special category status, Naidu said that it was Centre which had cheated and betrayed Andhra Pradesh by going back on its promise. Recalling that the Centre had promised to give the benefits of Special Category Status as special package, Naidu said later it went back on the promise.

Defending his decision to go with Congress, Naidu said that he would join hands with anybody who supports the cause of the state.