Naidu padayatra has a stormy start

TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu’s padayatra took off amidst frayed tempers and tight police security on Friday in a highly charged up atmosphere in the district.

He had a bumpy ride to his starting point as Telangana activists attacked his convoy at Taranaka and Uppal in the city and at other parts on his way to Warangal.

Addressing the farmers during padayatra, Naidu wondered about Telangana leaders objecting his padayatra, which was taken up for the highlighting farmers issues. He said that he had already made his stand clear on Telangana and said that he would continue his padayatra till the farmers get justice and make the agriculture a profitable business.

Earlier, when Naidu reached Lakshmakkapalli village, he was welcomed by Telugu Desam Telangana Forum convenor Errabelli Dayakar Rao, MLAs Kadiam Srihari, Revuri Prakash, Revanthreddy, Ramesh Rathod and Seethakka.

Before that Naidu’s convoy was attacked by Osmania University Students at Tarnaka and Uppal with stones. The police lobbed tear gas shells and dispersed the students.

On the way to Janagaon, Naidu convoy was attacked by Telangana activists at Bhuvanagiri, Rayagiri and other places and stoned the vehicles protesting his visit without making his stand clear on the Telangana state.

In many places, the police lathicharged the activists who obstructed his convoy and took them into custody.

Protesting his visit, the RTC employees boycotted duties and staged dharnas in front of bus depots in the district and in some parts in Telangana.    

Tension prevailed at Jangaon, Aleru, Yadagirigutta, Dharmapuri and other places when the police resorted to lathicharge and arrests. In Aleru, the police registered 20 cases against activists.

Chanting `Naidu Go Back’ slogans the activists displayed flex banners opposing his visit.

Protesting the Naidu visit, the business and commercial establishments have downed their shutters following the Warangal Bandh call given by TRS and Telangana Political Joint action committee.

The students boycotted educational institutions in the district and RTC suspended its services sensing the trouble.

TRS Floor Leader Etela Rajender alleged that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP chief Naidu conspired with each other and resorting to suppress the agitation by coercive arrests and attacks.

Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kodandaram demanded that the government book cases against Naidu for disturbing law and order situation and held responsible for police attacks on Telangana activists. He also appealed to government to register cases against police for their highhandedness on activists. He said the TPJAC would submit a memorandum to Director General of Police over the highhandedness of police on activists. 

Station Ghanapur former MLA Rajaiah alleged that Naidu was provoking people with active support of the Chief Minister. He said Naidu took out padayatra to revive his party, which was on verge of extinction in the region and to get sympathy of farmers by shedding crocodile tears.

Protesting the police arrests and Naidu visit, Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee has called for boycott of educational institutions on Saturday across the Telangana region.