Congress holds protests across Telangana State

Party rally turns tense, leaders arrested in Warangal

Warangal: Tension built up here on Friday as the police tried to block a massive protest rally led by district Congress leaders. The Congress activists, led by party leaders, towards the district collectorate where they planned to stage a demonstration.

Following the call given by the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, the district unit leaders and workers took to the streets protesting against the apathy of the TRS government in waving crop loans.

The Congress leaders addressed a massive public meeting at Ekasila Park. Later, they started marching towards the Collectorate to stage a demonstration. Police tried to prevent protestors at Kaloji statue and later at Adalath centre but in vain. The Congress leaders proceeded towards the Collectorate. Police personnel, who were deployed in large numbers at Collector’s bunglow, blocked the procession, leding to a scuffle between police and protestors.

Nevertheless, a large group of party workers rushed towards the Collectorate and staged demonstration. When the police tried to detain leaders, former Union Minister P Balaram Naik suffered a minor injury.

MLA D S Redya Naik, former Minister B Saraiah, former Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, former MLAs M Kavitha, K Sridhar, former MP S Rajaiah, former Mayor Errabelli Swarna, Mahila Congress leader Ponnala Vaishali, DCC president N Rajender Reddy were arrested by the police and were taken to Subedari police station in Hanamkonda.

Earlier in the day, the Congress leaders criticised the ruling TRS government for failing to deliver the promises made in its election manifesto. “TRS party which made tall claims during elections had done nothing in the past three months to keep its promises,” leaders said.The leaders said it was the first time that a government had lost the trust of the people in 100 days after coming to power. They cautioned the people against trusting Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Maha dharna staged in Karimnagar

Karimnagar: The Congress leaders and workers participated in a Maha Dharna in front of the district Collectorate here on Friday, seeking immediate implementation of farm loan waiver scheme. Former Minister D Sridhar Babu, former MP Ponnam Prabhakar, Jagtial MLA Jeevan Reddy and other leaders took part in the protest.

Speaking on the occasion, Sridhar Babu said the Congress was the only party which always stood by farmers.

Ponnam Prabhakar said the Congress party would intensify agitation, if the TRS government failed to resolve problems being faced by the farmers. He asked the TRS government to render justice to farmers.

He flayed the TRS government for not responding to crop loan waiver demand even though the kharif season was coming to an end.