Chalo Raj Bhavan prog: BJP leaders held

Hyderabad, Apr 11: BJP leaders, including former Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya and Secretary N Indrasena Reddy, were arrested when they tried to proceed towards the Governor's residence along with party activists, as part of the 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' programme in protest against the steep rise in the prices of essential commodities.

The march, taken out from Indira Park to Raj Bhavan, was stopped by police at Khairatabad junction where the leaders were taken into preventive custody. The activists, who tried to move towards the Raj Bhavan by crossing the barricades, were also arrested.

Earlier, participating in the dharna, in protest against the price rise of essentials, Naidu alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre had failed to control the prices, causing a heavy burden on the common man.

Pointing out that the Congress had promised to contain the prices of essential goods ahead of the 2004 General Elections, Mr Naidu said the UPA forgot the plight of common man soon after the Congress came to power at the Centre.

Party state unit President Dattatreya alleged that the Rajasekhara Reddy's government had colluded with the traders in the state which led to a situation where common man could not afford to buy vegetables and rice.

UNI