TRS, NTP protests mar AP state formation day celebrations

Hyderabad, Nov 1 (UNI) Protests by Pro-Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Nava Telangana Party (NTP) in the Telangana region today marred the celebrations to mark the formation of linguistic state of Andhra Prdesh.

Both the parties observed the day as ''Telangana betrayal day''.

Leading the road blockade stir at Vanasthalipuram in the city, NTP President T Devender Goud, sporting black badges, urged United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to ensure early introduction of bill in Parliament for grant of statehood to Telangana. A decision on the issue should be taken well before the next elections, said Mr Goud, who had quit the Telugu Desam Party to float the NTP.

Meanwhile, police resorted to lathicharge and took into custody TRS legislators T Harish Rao and Ramalinga Reddy when they tried to block Major Industries Minister J Geeta Reddy in Sangareddy in Medak district.

Tense situation prevailed for sometime when former TRS MLA Padma Devender, along with her supporters, were taken into custody when they tried to hoist black flag on the Medak District Collectorate office.

In Warangal, the TRS activists gheraoed Tribal Welfare Minister D Redya Naik. Despite the tight security cover to Home Minister K Jana Reddy, the TRS activists swarmed the grounds and disrupted the celebrations in Nalgonda for sometime.

In Adilabad, TRS activists blocked Labour Minister G Vinod for sometime in protest against the Congress party's alleged ''indecisiveness'' on the issue.

''We have left the issue to Ms Gandhi and we will abide by whatever decision she takes on the issue,'' Mr Goud added.

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