Protesters stop CM's convoy at Tirupati

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI, JULY 9. Over 25 persons were grievously injured when the police swooped down on activists of the CPI(M), the CPI and the Congress who tried to block the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu's convoy and to hold a demonstration protesting against the steep hike in the power tariff. Police took into custody nearly 50 demonstrators in this connection.

Sources said the police who were already upset with a similar demonstration at Mr. Naidu's previous programme at Gazulamandyam, cracked down on the demonstrators numbering about 200. Some passersby were also said to have been injured and shops lining the pavement were also said to have been damaged in the action. Among those who received grievous injuries and rushed to the Government General hospital here was the district CPI(M) secretary, Mr. Murali. At least half a dozen women were said to be among the injured.

Caught as he was in the chaos around, the Chief Minister seated in his car, was said to have been stranded for nearly 10 minutes. The incident occurred as Mr. Naidu was on his way to the SVU stadium to participate in a star nite being organised by the party MP and film producer, Mr. Rama Naidu.

The Chief Minister's meeting held earlier at Gazulamandyam, 15 km from here, was also disrupted by slogan- shouting Left party activists, including women. Police resorted to a lathicharge and arrested about 30 activists. Even as Mr. Naidu began his address, the Left party activists rose to their feet, flung into the air sheafs of hand bills containing ``CM go back'' slogans and began waving black flags and placards. While the police whisked away the men cadre, in the case of women they observed restraint, heeding the advice of the Chief Minister.

In fact, up to one point, Mr. Naidu managed to keep the women demonstrators under check by asking women belonging to DWCRA groups to pin them down or ``close their mouths.'' This, in fact, worked well and normality almost returned to the meeting only to be disturbed again as some women rose to their feet amid slogan- shouting.

The Chief Minister kept his cool and went on with his speech making a strident attack at the Opposition, especially the Left parties, who, he said, were indulging in ``gimmicks'' to tell the people that they were still alive and kicking though they were actually not. They did not want development. They only wanted a ruse to kick up a row for their own political existence though they were summarily rejected by voters. They were not able to stomach the ``rapid developments '' the State had recorded during TDP rule and that was why they were out to create trouble and ``disturb my meetings''. As the small group of women showed no sign of giving up, police moved in and pushed them away. The district leader of Mahila Sangham was said to have been treated roughly. The demonstrators were said to have been bundled into police vans and taken to the police station.

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Our Hyderabad Staff Reporter adds:

The CPI condemned the police lathicharge.

In a statement issued here, CPI State Council Assistant Secretary, Mr. K.Narayana, said nearly 40 demonstrators including several party leaders were also arrested and shifted to jail. In the lathicharge, the All-India Student Federation leaders, Raja Reddy and Redappa Reddy, were grievously injured, he said.

In a separate statement, the CPI(M)leader, Mr. B.V. Raghavulu, also condemned the lathicharge.

In a statement, the Youth Congress president, Mr. Sudhakar Reddy, criticised the police action.

The Opposition has called for a bandh on July 11 in protest against the police action.

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Section  : Southern States
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