Cops stop APCC chief from paying tributes to Phule

The police obstructed APCC Chief N Raghuveera Reddy and Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao when they came to pay floral tributes to Mahathma Jyotirao Phule here on Wednesday at Thummalapalli Kalakshethram.

The police made it clear that they will allow the Congress leaders only after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid tributes to Jyothirao Phule due to security reasons. Tension prevailed when Raghuveera Reddy and KVP said they will not go back and leave the place only after paying tributes to Mahatma Phule. The Congress men staged a dharna sitting on the road in protest against attitude of the police. The police arrested the Congress leaders and shifted them to police station.

Speaking on the occasion, the Congress leaders alleged that the attitude of the police was nothing but destroying the rights of the people in a democracy. The leaders also raised slogans against the Chief Minister and police. Former Union minister Pallam Raju, JD Sheelam, C Ramachandraiah, Kanumuri Bapiraju and others participated in the program. (NSS)