JC, Raghuveera verbal war spills over on to streets

The war of words between Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and former minister Jc Diwakar Reddy spilled onto the streets on Sunday when some students belonging to the Backward Classes staged a protest in front of the latter’s residence and burnt his effigy, denouncing his remarks.

Condemning the Mr Diwakar Reddy’s allegations that ‘Mr Raghuveera Reddy is a ‘Bharatiya Janata Party mole in the Congress,’ the Backward Class students had earlier taken out a massive rally in the Osmania University.

Raising slogans against Mr Diwakar Reddy, the Backward Class student leaders demanded that he withdraw his comments against Mr Raghuveera Reddy and issue an apology to the Minister.

Later, the students went in a procession to Mr Diwakar Reddy residence at Jubilee Hills Check Post and staged the dharna in front of his residence. They also burnt an effigy depicting the former minister.

When the students tried to barge into Mr Diwakar Reddy’s residence, the police foiled their attempts and took them into custody.

The police shifted the students to a nearby police station. Additional police forces have also been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incidents.

The war of words between the two leaders had escalated after the Revenue Minister had accused Mr Diwakar Reddy of sabotaging the Congress by indirectly backing the Telugu Desam Party candidate and fielding a rebel candidate in the recently held elections to the Legislative Council from the Local Area Authorities constituencies.

Mr Raghuveera Reddy had dubbed Mr Diwakar Reddy as a ‘traitor and a pest’ and demanded his expulsion from the party.

Responding to the Revenue Minister’s comments, Mr Diwakar Reddy had branded him as a BJP mole in the Congress and challenged the Mr Raghuveera Reddy to contest and defeat him from any constituency in Anantapur district.