The government of Andhra Pradesh today issued a GO Ms 177 in public interest to restrain govt. employees from going on unconventional and innovative agitation programmes like 'Pen Down', 'Chalk Down', 'Tool Down' and 'Non-cooperation' strikes. The government stated that the GO has been issued in view of recent experiences and the difficulties faced by the Government as well as public and in the interest of public, a necessity has arisen to issue certain instructions to face such unconventional and innovative agitation programmes in future.

Reacting sharply to the GO Ms 177, several employees' union leaders termed it as a coercive and suppressing measure by the government. The GO has been issued by the government only with the sole intention to stop employees from participating in Telangana agitation. They came down heavily on the government and said that a protest day against the GO Ms 177 will be observed on day after tomorrow i.e., on 17th April.