Police thwart TDP, Left rally, leaders term action 'undemocratic'

The police on Friday arrested Telugu Desam Party and Left party cadre, when they attempted to lay siege to the Secretariat following the call given by their respective party leaders to protest against state government’s indifference in announcing a revised package for rain-hit farmers.

Protesting against the government’s ‘adamant’ attitude, the activists from the TDP and Left parties took out a massive rally from the Assembly premises to the Secretariat, after paying rich floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi statue at Assembly premises, raising anti-government slogans along the way.

When they reached Ravindra Bharathi, the police stopped them and did not allow them to continue their rally.

The TDP leaders had a heated argument with police. Sensing trouble and the realizing that the situation might get out of hand, the police took the activists into their custody and shifted them to Gosha Mahal police station.

The activists also condemned the police action against the activists who were peacefully proceeding on their way and termed it as an insult to democracy.

Earlier, the TDP leaders and Left party leaders convened an emergency meeting at Telugu Desam Legislature Party Office to discuss the health condition of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and finalize the strategy and future course of agitation.

The rally was led by TDP MP and Mr Naidu’s brother-in-law Nandamuri Harikrishna, senior leaderssenior leaders K Yerrannaidu and Nagam Janardhan Reddy.