Naidu, 8 MPs, 30 MLAs held in Maharashtra

Telugu Desam Party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and about 70 politicians including 30 party MLAs and eight MPs were taken into preventive custody on Friday afternoon as they tried to visit the Babli barrage in Nanded district (Maharashtra) bordering Adilabad district despite the prohibitory orders.

 The four buses carrying Telugu Desam, Lok Satta leaders and other activists set on a yatra on Friday morning and headed for Babli project site in Maharashtra where they were arrested and taken to Dharmadatta police station.

 The TDP and other Opposition leaders alleged that Maharashtra Government built the Babli dam project over the river Godavari illegally with an intention of grabbing more than its share of water from the river.  The Andhra Prdesh Government has also challenged the construction of the dam in the Supreme Court in 2006.

"Although the matter is subjudice, Chandrababu's visit becomes illegal and this could create a law and order situation in the area," suggested Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil, when Naidu insisted on crossing the border by breaking the police cordon.

Naidu has embarked on the bus Yatra at a time when the state's 12 constituencies in Telangana region are getting ready for the elections on July 27. He is clearly keen to drive home the point that he is fighting for Telangana's water since the Maharashtra project could leave the T-region dry without water.