TDP leaders' arrest triggers protests

There were protests across Andhra Pradesh on Saturday condemning the arrest of Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 party legislators by Maharashtra police.

The Tdp workers burnt the effigy of Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in Hyderabad while a rail-blockade was staged at Guntur. The supporters strongly resented the way in which a leader of Chandrababu Naidu's stature is being treated by the Maharashtra government.

The agitators demanded that the Tdp delegation be allowed to inspect Babli and other irrigation projects, which were built illegally by Maharashtra Government on the river Godavari.

Tdp workers came on to the streets elsewhere in the state and raised slogans against the Congress party.The party activists raised slogans against the Maharashtra chief minister as well as his AP counterpart K Rosaiah denouncing the arrest of Naidu.

Tdp also organised protests in Adilabad and Nizamabad districts bordering Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, senior Tdp leaders like Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Nagam Janardhana Reddy, Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and others met in the NTR Bhavan here to discuss the situation following the arrest of Chandrababu and others on Friday.