MLAs and workers belonging to the Telugu Desam Party were arrested by the City Police when they tried to enter the State Secretariat here on Tuesday.
Expressing their support for the general strike call given by the Telangana employees’ unions across the region, a group of TDP leaders and workers led by TDP Telangana Forum convener Errabelli Dayakar Rao initially tried to enter the premise of the State Secretariat. When the police prevented from doing so, they staged dharna in front of the Secretariat’s main gate while shouting ‘Jai Telangana’ slogans.
However, due to the heavy presence of police forces, their attempt was foiled. All protesters including Dayakar Rao, M Narasimhulu, Kadium Srihari and Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy were immediately taken into custody and shifted to a nearby police station.
The TDP leaders demanded that the Centre introduce Telangana Bill in the parliament. Talking to reporters, Dayakar Rao said that the TDP Telangana Forum has extended total support the general strike. He warned the state government of serious consequences against suppressing the strike.