BJP to lead beedi workers dharna before Sonia's house

Hyderabad, May 8 (UNI) The BJP today threatened to lead a dharna of beedi workers before UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's residence from June 1 to protest against the Centre's order making it mandatory for beedi packets to carry skull and bones pictorial warning.

As part of the protest, the party staged a 'Maha Dharna' in four Telangana districts from 0900 hrs to 1300 hrs today, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Talking to UNI from Kamareddy in Nizamabad district over phone, party state president and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the lives of beedi workers, most of them women, would be adversely affected following the Union Government's decision. Being a woman, Ms Gandhi should have responded on the issue, he said and pointed out that UPA partner DMK was also demanding withdrawal of the decision.

UNI