MPTC Association members, leaders arrested

Hyderabad, Jan 20 (UNI) Police today arrested the leaders and activists of the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) Association, when they tried to stage a dharna infront of state Secretariat, demanding devolution of powers to the MPTCs as provided in the Constitution.

The association members arrived in the city from across the state as part of the campaign "Chalo Hyderabad".

Later, Association President Rajendra Prasad told newspersons that he would launch an hunger strike inside the jail demanding that the government transfer the powers to the MPTCs immediately.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu said the TDP would support MPTC in its struggle and alleged that the Congress government was not interested to transfer the powers to the local bodies.

BJP State President Bandaru Dattatraya alleged that the Congress government was now considering the local bodies as "puppets".

Loksatta Party Chief Jayaprakash Narayana alleged that the previous and present governments had neglected the local bodies and failed to transfer powers to local bodies.

UNI