Tirupati:Tension gripped Nellore on Wednesday as leaders of Telugu Desam Party defied section 144 and organised a peace rally to condemn the arrest of their party chief and former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
Despite the prohibitory orders, TD leaders, including former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, Venkatagiri MLA A. Ramnarayana Reddy and Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy, along with Jana Sena and CPI leaders, defiantly marched from VR Circle to Gandhi statue, raising slogans against the government. They later staged a demonstration at the Gandhi statue.
Earlier, police had placed Somireddy and MLAs Ramnarayana, Sridhar Reddy and Srinivasulu Reddy under house arrest. However, they all managed to break free and reached VR Circle amid dramatic scenes.
Former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy accused YSR Congress of exploiting CID and police departments to settle scores with opposition party leaders.
"Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been attempting to tarnish the reputation of Naidu, a leader with an impeccable political record," Somireddy charged. He predicted that people will teach a lesson to YSRC in the upcoming general elections.
