Hyderabad/Kolkata/Bhubaneshwar, June 6 : The State-wide shutdown called by the opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh today against the fuel price hike by the Central Government has been peaceful so far.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telengana Rastra Samithi (TRS), Left Parties and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists blocked the streets demanding a roll back in the prices.

The Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Government in Andhra Pradesh has neutralized the Rs 50 hike in LPG gas cylinder prices and is mulling over reducing Value Added Tax
(VAT) on petrol and diesel.

Educational institutions in the State were closed but the Central Government and State Government offices functioned normally.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University changed the dates of several examinations including of First year B. Tech and B. Pharmacy. Shops and petrol pumps were closed while the public transport remains unaffected in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Buses did not ply on some routes and A. P Express was delayed for some time in both the cities. Long distance trains were affected due to blockades in various parts of the State.

A twelve-hour shutdown called by the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in West Bengal has disrupted the normal life. The services of the Eastern and South- Eastern Railways were severely affected due to picketing on rail tracks at different places. Shops, establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Government offices recorded slim attendance and Public transport on the roads was very less.

In Kolkata, metro and ferry services and flight operations from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport were normal.

In Orissa, the Left Parties today called for a 12-hour shutdown to oppose the recent fuel price hike. Traffic movement was normal on the National highways. Long-distance trains were stopped by the Communist Party Of India (CPI) activists at several stations. BJP held rallies in all district headquarters against the fuel price hike even as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Left affiliated trade unions extended their support to the shutdown. (ANI)