TRS turns violent, Racha Banda nominal

The fifth day of Racha Banda also took a violent turn with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi supporters taking their opposition to the streets on Friday.

In Nalgonda district, 16 vehicles were damaged and a DSP was hurt in the stone-pelting though the police was in full force. Similarly, in Warangal district TRS men made their presence felt despite

police forces deployed.

In Devarkonda, Nalgonda district, the TRS violence was stepped up in such a way that police had resorted to bursting tear gas shells to disperse the angry mobs.

In Kakinada, East Godavari district, representations that were given to the officers concerned found their way on the national highway which spoke of the lethargy or hangover of the officials in the

beginning itself.

In Maheswaram, Ranga Reddy district, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy also faced the 'music' from the Telangana agitators who stormed the venue. However, the Chief Minister formally launched the Aadhar smart card to facilitate issue of ration and other commodities to the beneficiaries.

The protests went unabated as seen from the reports but the government version was one of a defending acts stating that the Racha Banda on fourth day (not counting the Republic Day) went as scheduled and peacefully with active participation from the ST members who received their quota of benefits at the hands of the Chief Minister in Maheswaram in Ranga Reddy district.

The STs received pensions, Pavala interest, housing sites sanction letters, besides finding solutions to their problems.

Giving this information, Minister for Civil Supplies D Sridhar Babu told media persons at the Secretariat that Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy had directed the officials to check eligibility and deliver the goods to the poor.  

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy also visited a photo exhibition at K C Thanda after attending the Racha Banda. He also distributed assets at Maheshwaram and inaugurated new blocks of AP residential school buildings.

Thereafter he moved to Nalgonda district and distributed assets to the poor.

Mr Sridhar Babu revealed that the Racha Banda was held in 1587 places in the state today.

Barring minor disruptions in 102 places, it went well in 4361 villages and gram panchayats, the Minister said. In Coastal Andhra, 1828 villages or gram panchayats were covered and 1625 in Telangana, Mr Sridhar Babu said.

Asked whether the Congress MLAs boycotted the programme, the Minister clarified that their personal preoccupation is different from the official function.

As such it cannot be misconstrued that they totally boycotted the Racha Banda.