Hyderabad: Terming the bandh called by the Opposition a “flop show”, TRS leaders on Saturday accused the former of trying to create hurdles in the smoothing functioning of the government and obstructing development with an ulterior motive.
Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition coming on one platform for the bandh, minister K.T. Rama Rao questioned as to whose agenda was the Opposition following.
“Opposition called for the bandh on a second Saturday, knowing fully well that it is a holiday and thus could claim success,” Mr Rama Rao said.
He said that whether Congress, TD or BJP leaders cooperate with the government or not, it would help the farmers, waive loans and make agriculture profitable.
“We will waive pending farm loan. We will make agriculture profitable and we will stand by farmers and help them in all aspects,” Mr Rama Rao said.
He said that though the TS government planned one-time waiver of farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh, the RBI had put certain stipulations and the State also could not raise more loans due to restriction of FRBM to 3 per cent while state was seeking limit up to 3.5 per cent.
Describing the bandh as a “flop” ministers T. Srinivas Yadav and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy said there was no support from the farmer community to the Opposition call.
“Knowing Congress and Telugu Desam history, people did not back them,” they alleged. Minister T. Harish Rao too expressed surprise over Congress and TD joining hands.
“Uttam Kumar Reddy, Jana Reddy and other Congress leaders owe an explanation as to how they are backing TD headed by AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu who is opposing irrigation projects in TS,” he said.
Industries minister Jupally Krishna Rao said that Opposition unity was only to save their respective parties from being totally wiped out.
Food being served to arrested political leaders and party workers at a police station on Saturday. (Photo: DC)
Arrested leaders get VIP treatment
Arrangements to ensure VIP treatment for leaders taken into custody during Saturday state-wide bandh were made in advance by police officials.
Food and other facilities were arranged for the leaders, as they would have to be kept in custody till the evening.
With most of the leaders facing health complications like diabetes, extra care was taken.
A majority of these leaders were shifted to the Gosha Mahal police stadium, Bolarum and Kanchan Bagh police stations.
Cops had made arrangements like breakfast, lunch and tents for the leaders at these places.
As many as 220 persons, including six MLAs and one MLC were arrested from Jubilee Bus Station and other parts of Secunderabad and shifted to Bolarum.
As many as 444 persons, including TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy were arrested at CBS.
Jana Reddy: It’s warning to KCR
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly K. Jana Reddy on Saturday said that the success of the Opposition called bandh was a stern warning to the 16-month-old K. Chandrasekhar Rao government for failing to implement its promises.
He said that similar mass agitations would take place in the future if the TRS government does not rectify its mistakes.
Addressing reporters in Gandhi Bhavan, Mr Jana Reddy thanked the people and other Opposition parties for making the bandh a success.
TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy credited the “success of the bandh” to the Chief Minister for “uniting the Opposition”.
He alleged that the bandh was a success despite the government resorting to arrests of Opposition activists to foil it.
TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that Opposition parties will soon decide on the course of action to be taken till the government announces a one-time waiver of farm loans.
Telangana TD president L. Ramana also thanked the people in making the bandh success.
No major act of violence
The Opposition-called bandh was mostly peaceful across the state, barring a few minor incidents. In LB Nagar a BJP worker suffered minor injuries on his hand when the party activists tried to force a furniture repair shop to down its shutters.
The BJP worker tried to force the workers to leave the place, but got injured on his hand from a sharp tool the worker was holding at the time of scuffle.
Police arrested the BJP activists and installed a picket at the spot. Both parties filed complaints with the police.
Meanwhile, at least four RTC buses were damaged due to stone pelting in different parts of the city.
