Beedi workers lay siege to collectorate

Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, Dec 1 (UNI) Tension prevailed here today when beedi workers laid siege to the Collectorate demanding that the state Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy intervene and get a clear announcement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the GO regarding the warning logo on beedi packets.

The issue became a major election propaganda matter as all parties were trying to encash the sentiments of beedi workers, who formed two lakh of the 14.5 lakh electorate of the Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency for which by poll was due on December 4.

TDP candidate L Ramana contesting from the constituency led today's agitation.

Mr Ramana said they would not leave the place and would not allow anyone to leave the collectorate until a clear assurance was given.

If the Collector wanted to leave the building he would have to walk on the dead bodies of beedi workers.

Though the Collector and the SP assured they would take up the issue with the government after the by-election, as it would not be possible to make any announcement now, due to the election code, hundreds of workers who gathered at the collectorate did not heed it. Police moved a large force to the collectorate to face eventualities.

UNI JRK MS KN1830