Oppn leaders held for staging dharna against prices

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary K Narayana and CPI (Marxist) State general secretary BV Raghavulu were detained by the police on Saturday when they took up a padayatra from Indira Park to Secretariat in protest over the rising prices of essential commodities.

Earlier, the Opposition parties had stalled the proceedings in the House on the issue. They then gathered at Indira Park and staged a dharna.

Addressing the gathering, the leaders alleged that policies of both Central and State Governments were responsible for skyrocketing prices of essential commodities. They criticised the imposing of 14 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential commodities and said that this has led to a jump in food inflation.

They threatened to continue the agitation until the government cut down the increased prices of diesel and petrol.

Later, when the Opposition leaders planned to move in Padayatra from Indira Park to Secretariat, the police foiled their attempts, took them into custody. The police took them to Banjara Hills police station.