BJP to take out rath yatra against Babli project

Hyderabad, Apr 25 (UNI) The opposition BJP in Andhra Pradesh announced a series of stirs, including 'rath yatras', as the 'fast-unto-death' by its national secretary N Indirasena Reddy and nine others, demanding immediate halting of the Babli project by Maharashtra, entered the third day today.

Upset with ''stoic silence'' maintained by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Ministers from Andhra Pradesh over the Maharashtra Government's alleged defiance of the Centre's directive, party state general secretary K Laxman told reporters here that the party activists would corner the Union Ministers from state and Congress MPs and MLAs in the Telangana region from May one by holding 'Jana Chaitanya Rathyatras'.

Demanding that an all-party meeting be convened to chalk out future course of action, the BJP leader criticised the Congress for taking to the streets on the issue.

''It is the state government which should lead any agitation. We are ready to extend our support to any stir announced by the government,'' he said.

The party activists would block vehicular traffic in all district headquarters and the state capital tomorrow and in mandals on April 27 and 28. Rail roko would be staged here on April 27, he added.

The condition of those on hunger-strike was stable, doctors attending on them said.

UNI