TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu's padayatra took off amidst frayed tempers and tight police security on Friday, in a highly charged-up atmosphere in Warangal district.
He had a bumpy ride to his starting point, as Telangana activists attacked his convoy at Tarnaka and Uppal in Hyderabad, and at other places on his way to Warangal.
Addressing the farmers during padayatra, Naidu wondered about Telangana leaders objecting to his padayatra wanted.
He said that he had already made his stand on Telangana clear, and that he would continue his padayatra till farmers get justice and make their agriculture a profitable business.
Earlier, when Naidu reached Lakshmakkapalli village, he was welcomed by Telugu Desam Telangana Forum convenor Errabelli Dayakar Rao, MLAs Kadiam Srihari, Revuri Prakash, Revanthreddy, Ramesh Rathod and Seethakka.
Before that, Naidu's convoy was attacked with stones, by Osmania University Students at Tarnaka and Uppal. The police lobbed tear gas shells at them, to disperse them.
On the way to Janagaon, Naidu's convoy was attacked by Telangana activists at Bhuvanagiri, Rayagiri and other places. The agitators stoned the vehicles, protesting the fact that he had not made his stand on Telangana clear.
In many places, the police lathicharged the activists who obstructed his convoy, and took them into custody.
Protesting his visit, RTC employees boycotted duties and staged dharnas in front of bus depots in Warangal district and in some other parts of Telangana.
Tension prevailed at Janagaon, Aleru, Yadagirigutta, Dharmapuri and other places, when the police resorted to lathicharge and arrests.
In Aleru, the police registered 20 cases against activists.
Chanting "Naidu Go Back" slogans, the activists displayed flex-banners opposing his visit.
Protesting Naidu's visit, business and commercial establishments downed their shutters, following the
Warangal bandh call given by the TRS and the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee.
Students boycotted educational institutions in the district, and the RTC, sensing trouble, suspended its services as well.
TRS Floor Leader Etela Rajender alleged that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP chief Naidu are conspiring with each other to suppress the agitation by coercive arrests and attacks.
Telangana Political Joint Action Committee chairman M Kodandaram demanded that the government book cases against Naidu for disturbing the law and order. He also held Naidu responsible for police attacks on Telangana activists.
Kodandaram appealed to the government to register cases against the police for what he called their high handedness towards activists. He said the TPJAC would submit a memorandum to the Director General of Police over the matter.
Rajaiah, a former MLA of Station Ghanapur, accused Naidu of provoking people with the active support of the Chief Minister. He said that Naidu's padayatra was meant to gain farmers' sympathy and to merely revive his party, which, he said, is on the verge of extinction in the region.
Protesting the police arrests and Naidu's visit, the Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee has called for a boycott of educational institutions across the Telangana region on Saturday. (INN)