Defying the Congress High Command, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, along with other leaders from Seemandhra leaders, staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday against the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister contended that the Centre could not take up Telagnana Bill, which was rejected by State Legislative Assembly through a resolution. PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, union ministers, MPs and legislators from Seemandhra region also participated in the dharna.
High drama prevailed when the Chief Minister left AP Bhavan to visit Rajghat and then to Jantar Mantar. While Kiran Kumar Reddy was boarding the bus, Telangana Congress leaders including ministers - Dr J Geetha Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, DK Aruna and Sunitha Lakshma Reddy, Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, MLC Mohammad Ali Shabbir and others squatted in front of the bus to prevent it from moving forward. However, police intervened and cleared the Chief Minister's route.
Speaking to media persons, Shabbir Ali said that Kiran Kumar Reddy can take up any protest only after resigning from his post. He said that it was immoral and incorrect on the part of the Chief Minister to participate in a dharna against his own party.
The Chief Minister will also meet President of India Pranab Mukherjee in the evening to request him to reject the Telangana Bill by referring the same to Supreme Court.