The police on Tuesday foiled an attempt by leaders and activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party to picket the Secretariat, demanding revised relief package for the rain-hit farmers.
Raising slogans against the state government, the BJP activists, led by senior leaders M Venkaiah Naidu, Bhandaru Dattatreya and state president G Kishen Reddy took out a rally from Indira Park to Secretariat.
The BJP leaders described the state government’s relief package as `meagre’ and demanded announcement of special package for uplifting the distressed farmers.
They also demanded the government to open paddy and cotton purchasing centres in mandals to procure the discoloured grains.
The BJP leaders also demanded the government to reschedule loans of farmers and waive interest on loans availed by them. They said the farmers in the state were badly hit due to cyclones and heavy rains and they need moral and financial support from the state government.
Sensing trouble from the BJP activists, the police stopped them near Secretariat. The BJP activists had a heated argument with the police. Later, the police lathicharged the activists and arrested them. They were shifted to a nearby police station and released later.