Vizianagaram: Police again foil BJP leaders visit to Ramatheertham

Nellimarla (Vizianagaram): In a repeat January 5 episode, police again foiled BJP leaders' attempt to proceed Ramateertham village and visit Kodanda Rama temple on Thursday. BJP state president Somu Veerraju and Rajya Sabha member G V L Narasimha Rao, MLC P V N Madhav, state unit vice-president Vishnuvardhan Reddy were among those who were taken into custody by police.

The party leaders and activists in huge number reached Nellimarla on their way to Ramatheertham but they were intercepted with barricades by police resulting ain a scuffle between police and BJP cadres.

BJP workers started raising slogans 'police down down' and demanded they be allowed to go to Ramateertham. The police said that only five members would be allowed there as there restrictions were in force on the number of people gathering at the village.

Ignoring the warning of police, BJP leaders pushed away the barricades and tried to proceed. During the scuffle with police, Vishnuvardhan Reddy fell down and felt some discomfort, struggling to breathe. He was shifted to Maharajah district hospital and provided medical treatment.

Somu Veerraju and G V L Narasimha Rao were arrested and sent to Nellimarla police station. Later, Veerraju denounced the police action saying that they were discriminated against in allowing to visit the temple. He pointed out the government allowed YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy and leaders of other parties but stopping them. "This is nothing but a feudalistic administration. We will not go back without visiting Ramatheertham. The government should treat all the leaders equally. How they will stop us here and how Vijayasai Reddy is allowed to go there?" he said.