TRS Warns Opposition Of Arrests If Protests Continue

Amid rising tensions and protests over the proposed Mallanna Sagar reservoir, Telangana minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, on the behalf of the State government, today warned that any further protests from the Opposition parties on the issue would result in arrests.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Yadav lashed out at the Opposition for "conspiring" against the government. He said that the government would remain unfazed by the Opposition's pressure tactics.

Regretting the use of excessive force by the police (lathi charge and tear gas shells) against the protestors, he said that he would inquire into the issue and talk to the concerned officials in the government to ensure that such an incident would not repeat. He also said that the government would compensate those injured durng yesterday's protest.

Alleging false accusations against his government over the Mallanna Sagar project, he urged the villagers not to fall for the Opposition's canards.

"The government is trying to offer swifter and better compensation through the State's own GO 123, as the Land Acquisition 2013 Act delays compensation to the displaced. GO 123 is clearly more advantageous for the villages surrounding Mallanna Sagar," he said.

Yadav added, "The irrigation minister is ready to provide a better package to the farmers if the existing one isn't acceptable. KCR is willing to personally talk to the villagers and persuade them to take the offer. The reservoir is a boon to the region."

He emphasized that the Telangana government was implementing projects such as Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya, Kalyana Lakshmi, Shaadi Mubarak and Haritha Haram only for the welfare of the people and not for its own benefit.