Police repressing against protesters on the Republic Day, who have been demanding Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, has evoked all-out condemnation and protests all over the state. Opposition parties and students organisations held demonstrations at various places.

Tension prevailed for some time at Gandhi Statue circle in Tirupati, when police tried to arrest YSRCP MP V Vara Prasad and senior leader B Karunakar Reddy, besides others. The leaders came down heavily on Chandrababu Naidu government and accused him for unleashing police force to suppress a public movement and democratic rights of people.

The leaders of students’ organisations including SFI, AISF and DYFI jointly held a demonstration against the police highhandedness.

YSRCP activists held dharnas, rastha rokos and protest rallies at various places in the state. Several leaders and activists of the party were also arrested by the police.

Party’s political secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy slammed Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for denying permission for Jagan to conduct the candlelight rally. He deplored that curfew like situation was created at R.K. Beach area and those supporting Special status for AP were specifically targeted.

Meanwhile, in Visakhapatnam police were caught unaware when State Secretary of CPI K Ramakrishna, along with party leaders and activists, made a vain bid to take out a rally towards RK Beach last evening. A large number of CPI activists surprised the police by resorting to a sudden procession from the Gandhi statue near the GVMC to R K Beach Road via old jail road.

Meanwhile, on social media website, Twitter, YSRCP Chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy thanked people for participating in the candlelight rallies held on the Republic Day at various places of the state, besides unprecedented repression by the police.