Sena activists detained by Maha police

A week after the Telugu Desam Bus Yatra to Babhli, it is now the turn of Shiv Sena Activists who were apprehended on Thursday near Bodhan in Nizamabad district bordering Maharashtras as the Shiv Sainiks were marching menacingly towards the Salura Lift Irrigation Project across river Manjira.

The Sena activists alleged that the project was constructed in Maharashtra territory. Tension prevailed as Andhra Pradesh mobilised its forces on the border to stop the Sena march. 

However, the Maharashtra police preempted the Sena move by erecting barricades and prevented the activists from entering Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh director general of police R R Girish Kumar alerted the Nizamabad police and mobilised police on the border to block the Sena activists. 

According to sources, the Maharashtra government had also raised objections in 2004 when the construction of the project was taken up. Reviewing the fluid situation with top police bras in Hyderabad, Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the Salura project was built after Survey of India submitted a report and talks with the Maharashtra government. He also blamed the Telugu Desam for the present law and order situation between the two border States.

Sena has criticised the Congress government in Maharashtra for allowing the TDP leaders'  entry to their state and later dropping the charges against them before sending them back.