KTR Declines Lokesh's Request to Hold Protests in Hyderabad Against Naidu's Arrest

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam general secretary Nara Lokesh has reached out to BRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao through a friend with a request to allow protests in the city against the arrest of former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh. Rama Rao firmly rejected the request, to ensure harmonious living of people from all the states here.

Revealing the development at a press conference here on Tuesday, Rama Rao justified the government’s decision to not allow protests, particularly in the IT zone which was spared even at the peak of the statehood agitation.

“It is a political issue between two parties in Andhra Pradesh that have zero presence or stakes in Telangana. If we allow one party’s nautanki there will be counter-agitations and this battle of wits is bound to vitiate the law and order in the city,” Rama Rao explained.

The minister questioned the rationale behind the protests when the matter was sub judice. Earlier, he had said that it would look like “begani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana” if he reacted to Naidu’s arrest.

“How are we concerned about developments in another state that have no consequence on Telangana or its people,” he said adding that people from the neighbouring state had made substantial investments in Telangana and were assured of a peaceful life.

“Leaders of all the parties like Lokesh, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and Pawan Kalyan are my friends,” Rama Rao added.