There was mild tension at Maha dharna launched by Congress in protest against what it alleged “illegal projects by Telangana government”.
Police prevented Congress activists when they were proceeding towards Prakasam barrage where Maha dharna was organized and both the police and Congress workers indulged in verbal arguments. The Congress workers raised anti-police and anti-AP government slogans, including “Chandrababu down down”. Later, police took some Congress activists into preventive custody.
APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy, Devineni Avinash, Devineni Nehru, Killi Kriparani, Pallam Raju and K V P Ramachander Rao (KVP) and others participated in the maha dharna. Condemning the arrest of Congress workers, they questioned the act of the police and said the government should use its power against Telangana government, which was constructing illegal lift irrigation projects.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajya Sabha member KVP alleged that conspiracy was being hatched on special status to Andhra Pradesh. He also said the AP government was not raising any objection when upper steam Telangana State was indulging in constructing illegal projects.
Addressing the protestors, Congress leader Devineni Nehru alleged that by constructing Palamuru and Dindi projects, the Telangana government wanted to prevent flow of water to Andhra Pradesh. Condemning the AP government for not raising voice against illegal projects of Telangana government, Nehru said, “Some 60 lakh acres of farm land would be useless in future if we are not able to prevent construction of illegal projects in Telangana State”.
Taking a dig at Telangana Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao for giving warning, Nehru said, “If we organize massive dharna, Harish Rao will not be able to tour any district in his own Telangana State”. At least now, A P Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu should open his eyes and oppose illegal projects being constructed by Telangana government, Nehru said, adding that the protest program would be intensified. (NSS)