Naidu arrested: Power crisis

The police on Tuesday arrested Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who was on a padayatra from NTR Trust Office to Vidyut Soudha, protesting the government proposal to increase power tariff and unscheduled power cuts in the state.

Talking to media persons after his arrest at Road No 3, Banjara Hills in the city, the TDP chief stated that the government cannot burden the common man, who is already struggling with skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. He said that the government should bear the additional tariff burden of Rs 16,000 crores.

Alleging that that the government totally failed in dealing with power crisis in the state, Naidu condemned the government for resorting to arrest of leaders when they stage dharnas peacefully. He slammed the state for its failure to supply 9 hour power to farmers, which the party promised in its election manifesto.

Apart from its failure to generate power, government owed Rs 20,000 crore dues to power companies, he pointed out. He demanded the government to allot a lion’s share in the budget to tackle power crisis in the state and supply quality power to farmers.

Meanwhile, protesting the arrest of Naidu, TDP leaders Errabelli Dayakar Rao, G Muddu Krishnama Naidu and M Venkateswara Rao staged a sit-in dharna on the road.

They were shifted them to Banjara Hills police station and police also arrested the TDP activists at Vidyut Soudha.