TRS resort to 'rasta roko' protesting Minister's attitude

Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, Nov 20 (UNI) Activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), demanding separation of the Telangana region from Andhra Pradesh today held 'rasta roko' in Vemulawada in this district, protesting against the State Sports Minister's alleged roughing up of a party activist.

Satyanarayana Rao, a former AICC General Secretary, who represented the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat was here to campaign for his party for the by-election caused by TRS supremo and former Union Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao. He had indulged in an altercation in Bommakal village of this district with a TRS activist yesterday.

Traffic on the busy road came to a standstill for more than three hours because of the 'rasta roko'.

TRS workers who had alleged that the Minister had manhandled a party worker, wanted an apology from him. Mr Satyanarana challenged the TRS leader to talk to him on the dias, but lost his temper when he got irritated by the TRS worker who joined the issue.

TRS activists were alleging that Mr Rao had hit their activist when he questioned him on the implementation of GO 610, which envisaged the shifting of Government employees of other regions from Telangana.

Mr Satyanarayana, known for his controversial statements, demanded Mr Rao's resignation from his Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat, which he represented earlier and challenged him to face him in bypoll.

Consequently, Mr Rao and his colleague, A Narendra quit the Union Cabinet. The TRS supremo had also resigned his Lok Sabha seat. He called the ensuing by-election as a referendum on the formation of Telangana state.

Congress, however, chose to field Jagtial MLA, T Jeevan Reddy as its candidate for the Karimnagar by-poll. While the BJP fielded former Union Minister of State for Home CH Vidya Sagara Rao, the TDP has fielded former MP L Ramana.

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