The delay in the Centre's decision on Telangana has evoked sharp protests in the city with TRS and TJAC leaders hitting the road, and police moving in large contingents to prevent any untoward incident and arrested important leaders.
TRS MLAs on their way to Samara Deeksha were stopped at the Assembly by the police, and so they started a dharna at the Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises. TRS floor leader Eetela Rajender, T Harish Rao, Jupalli Krishna Rao and others began their protest by raising slogans against the government.
Rajender said that police have been arresting leaders and activists of TRS since last night, and that "the fall of this government is imminent".
Meanwhile, Osmania University students who tried to march towards Raj Bhavan were taken into custody at Khairatabad. In the university premises, a bike rally by the students was foiled by the police and the students were sent back from the NAC gate.
The Dharna Chowk area near Indira Park has been barricaded, and more forces have been deployed to cover that area and its surroundings. Police has said that there is no permission for public meetings or rallies.
Meanwhile, police arrested leaders in Warangal as a preventive measure. They have erected check-posts on the Warangal- Hyderabad highway and intensified checking. (INN)