Oppn parties intensify stir against Cong Govt

Hyderabad, Feb 5 (UNI) Former Andhra pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today led Telugu Desam Party's state-wide agitation from Chittoor in protest against the alleged 'anti-people' policies of the Congress Government in the state.

Launching a crusade against the Rajasekhara Reddy government by symbolically blowing the conch at ''Pedala Sankaravam'' programme, Mr Naidu assured the poor that his party would fight for them till justice was ensured.

After paying floral tributes to the bronze statue of party-founder N T Rama Rao, he made it clear that the agitation was only a beginning in the series of programmes in support of the people.

The party would intensify its stir, Mr Naidu asserted and expressed confidence that the TDP would regain power in the next assembly elections.

The party's protest was led by TDP Parliamentary Party leader K Yerran Naidu before the Hyderabad collectorate and by TDP Legislature Party Deputy Leader T Devender Goud in front of the Rangareddy district collectorate.

Castigating the Congress Government for neglecting the poor, they warned of more stirs against the government, which ''was indifferent to the plight of the poor.'' Criticising the ruling Congress for 'denying' scholarships to students belonging to the Backward Classes, Mr Goud said the party would raise the issue in the Budget Session of the Assembly beginning on February 12.

Meanwhile, BJP Floor Leader in the State Assembly G Kishan Reddy began a week-long padyatra from Chilakanagar in Rangareddy district in protest against price rise, shortage of kerosene and cooking gas.

The opposition -- CPI and CPI(M) -- also launched separate stirs against the Congress government.

Tension prevailed in front of the Rangareddy collectorate as Marxists blocked vehicular traffic on the busy Lakdikapool area, before the police dispersed them.

Reports of opposition's protests came from all over the state.

A Vijayawada report said the Communist Party of India (CPI) workers laid a siege to Mandal Revenue Office (MRO) in protest against spiralling prices of essential commodities.

Police arrested party-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Vice-President Kolli Nageswara Rao, Vijayawada West Legislator Nazar Vali and CPI City President Palla Surya Rao, as over 500 CPI activists barged into the MRO office, the report added.

UNI