Telangana state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar was placed under house arrest in Karimnagar to prevent him from travelling to Bhainsa town on Monday to launch the fifth phase of the Praja Sangrama Yatra.
The party has moved the Telangana High Court for permission to conduct the padayatra. The court is expected to hear the matter soon. The Telangana police stopped Sanjay on his way to the public meeting at Bhainsa, a town in Nirmal district, on Sunday night and sent him back to Karimnagar as permission was rejected due to sensitivity over communal issues in the town.
A large number of police were deployed around Sanjay's house to prevent him from leaving for Bhainsa. Tension prevailed at Jagtiyal on Sunday night when Sanjay was stopped on the way to Bhainsa, citing a lack of permission for the padayatra.
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Sanjay refused to get out of the vehicle and had a heated argument with the police officials. Sanjay's supporters resisted the police's attempt to stop the convoy.
The police detained the BJP leader and sent him back to Karimnagar. The BJP workers staged a protest against the police action at Jagtiyal, Korutla, Karimnagar, and Nirmal.
The BJP leader claimed that the police initially granted permission to the padayatra but, after the arrangements were made, withdrew the same. "They are saying Bhaina is a sensitive place. Is Bhainsa a prohibited area?," questioned Sanjay.
The fifth leg of the padayatra was supposed to begin in Bhainsa. Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, was invited to speak at the public meeting to celebrate the beginning of the rally.
The fifth phase of the walkathon will last for 20 days. According to the party's programme, it will conclude on December 17 at Karimnagar.
(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)