Hyderabad: Tension prevailed in Vijayawada on Tuesday during Dalitha Garjana dharna staged by Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Some TDP leaders climbed on a water tank near Dharna Chowk after the police refused to grant clearance for the protest.
The TDP's Scheduled Caste cell organised the rally to demand the government for the implementation of Dalit welfare programmes. A group of TDP leaders led by SC cell president MS Raju climbed on the water tank to register their protest.
The TDP leaders were detained by police and taken to the police station. The TDP leaders said that after obtaining permission for the dharna, the police withdrew it. They referred to the YSRCP government as "anti-Dalit",
Due to the dharna, the police in the early morning placed a number of TDP leaders under house arrest. Police erected barricades to stop the protestors from gathering at Dharna Chowk. Those under house arrest included former minister Diveneni Uma, Varla Ramaiah, Buddha Venkanna, G. Rammohan Rao, and Ashok Babu.
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Meanwhile, TDP former minister Nakka Anand Babu alleged that the state government was not providing funds for the Dalit welfare programmes. When he attempted to enter Vijayawada's Dharna Chowk to take part in the protest, police stopped him. A heated argument took place between the police and Anand Babu.
He claimed that the Constitution is being violated at every step under the rule of CM Jagan Mohan Reddy. He further said that the YSRCP government was using anti-democratic tactics to suppress democratic and peaceful movements.
(With inputs from ABP Desam — It is a Telugu platform of ABP News. For more news, commentary and latest happenings from two Telugu states, follow https://telugu.abplive.com//amp)