TDP protests baton-charge on its supporters in Maharashtra
By ANITuesday, July 20, 2010
HYDERABAD/ DHARMABAD - Activists of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) protested here on Tuesday over the police baton charge of its supporters in Maharashtra’s Dharmabad city.
The activists took to the roads in Hyderabad and blocked rail and road traffic.
“They went to protect the rights of the Andhra people, rights of Andhra Pradesh. What happened was so inhuman. The Maharashtra police baton charged all the delegates and leaders irrespective of their status,” said senior TDP leader Y. Ramakrishna.
“Generally, the police never resort to that extent, but in this case they resorted to whatever they wanted,” he added.
The police took into its custody former Hyderabad Mayor T. Krishna Reddy and other TDP leaders, who attempted to stop the convoy of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is in Hyderabad to address a meeting of Chief Ministers of southern states.
Meanwhile, Telugu film actor and former MP Mohan Babu also took out a rally along with students to protest the Maharashtra Government’s action.
The protestors ransacked an office of the State-owned telecommunications firm Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Guntur city.
The Maharashtra police had on Monday baton-charged the TDP supporters, who were protesting the arrest of its chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Earlier on Monday, the TDP called for a shutdown across Andhra Pradesh to protest the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu.
The Maharashtra police on Friday arrested Naidu along with 75 other politicians, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers for violating prohibitory orders.
They were taken into preventive custody as they tried to visit the Babli Dam in Maharashtra to find out whether that state is grabbing more than its share of water from the River Godavari.
Naidu claimed he was there only to inspect the contentious Babhali Barrage project and to fight for Andhra Pradesh’s fair share of water.
Several educational institutions, cinema halls, petrol-filling stations and markets are likely to remain closed today. Amidst concerns over the controversial project, TDP leaders want to see the Babli project ahead of their July 23 meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
An all-party delegation from Andhra Pradesh is expected to meet Dr. Singh this Friday. (ANI)
