Naidu held after protests over farmers' demands

Telugu Desam Party President and Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested on Monday when he sat on a protest on the road in front of the main entrance gate of Public Gardens adjacent to the state legislature demanding that the government immediately help the farmers in distress.

Many TDP MLAs were also arrested and shifted to the Goshamahal police station. Chandrababu sat on the protest after leaders of farmers' organisations were prevented entry into the assembly for submitting a memorandum to the government on the ryots woes.

The assembly could not discuss the farmers' issue despite the subjected being listed top on the agenda as the House was stuck in pandemonium over the lifting of cases against students who took part in the separate statehood agitations.

The TDP, the Left parties and the Praja Rajyam had been demanding that the government immediately discuss the plight of farmers and lend a helping hand as they were worst hit by a series of calamities this year.

The TDP, in fact, demanded that all crop loans to distressed farmers be waived. Though the Congress government agreed to debate the subject in the ongoing winter session of the assembly, the separatist Telangana Rashtra Samithi has been hijacking their agenda and not letting the House transact business.