Congress, TD leaders arrested, plans foiled

Several Opposition leaders were arrested by the police here on Thursday to prevent any protests ahead of the TRS public meeting.

Congress and TD leaders had planned to stage protests against the TRS on Thursday, but the police scuttled these plans by taking them into preventive custody beforehand.

Some TD leaders, including Warangal Urban convener Eega Mallesham, were placed under house arrest from Wednesday itself.

On Thursday, Congress leaders decided to organise a protest at the Ambedkar statue in Hanamkonda to highlight “the failure of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to fulfil his poll promises”.

However, the police stopped them at the residence of DCC president Naini Rajender Reddy and placed them under house arrest.

Expressing anger over the arrests, Mr Reddy said that the TRS government has no respect for democracy and accused it of always trying to gag the Opposition.

“We wanted to protest peacefully near the Ambedkar statue but we were not even allowed to step outside our houses. We have never seen the police misused like this. It’s been three years since the TRS came to power but so far, its promises have not been fulfilled. 2BHK houses, farm loan waiver, students’ fee dues, underground drainage and other promises are pending,” Mr Reddy said.