Naidu to go ahead with Warangal tour amid tension

Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said he would go ahead with his scheduled Rythu Poru Baata (struggle for farmers) programme even as Warangal police advised him to put off his tour of the district in view of the "hostile" atmosphere created by Telangana separatists.

Warangal Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar on Thursday night advised Naidu to put off his scheduled Rythu Poru Baata programme in the district in view of the hostile atmosphere
created by separatists, led by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.

A determined Chandrababu, however, told his aides that he would go ahead with his scheduled tour as he was fighting for the cause of farmers.

In a missive to Chandrababu late on Thursday night, Kumar apprehended that the former chief minister's visit -- wherein he is scheduled to conduct padayatra (foot march) in Palakurthy constituency to study the problems being faced by farmers -- could lead to a break down of law and order as the separatist elements are bent on blocking his programme.

"In view of the situation, I request you to put off your programme in Warangal district," the SP said in the letter.

Though the SP was not available for comment, a top district official told PTI over phone from Warangal that the situation in the district, known as the hotbed of Telangana struggle, was "very hostile" and "trouble is expected.

"TDP MLA from Palakurthy Errabilli Dayakar Rao said he was trying to ascertain from the SP the reason for asking Chandrababu to put off the yatra.

"The SP is unavailable but as of now there is no change in our programme," he said.

The Telangana statehood-seekers have threatened to disrupt Chandrababu's tour programme as he has not spoken in favour of a separate state.

They had also given a call for a day-long bandh in the district protesting the TDP chief's visit.

Police took several TRS workers and pro-Telangana activists into preventive custody to avert trouble.

Warangal MLA D Vinay Bhaskar was also detained as he was spearheading the protests.