T activists attack Lagadapati

Tension prevailed on Tuesday when the supporters of Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal and Telangana activists almost came to blows outside the Jubilee Hills police station.

Trouble started when Lagadapati visited the office of Road Transport Authority to meet the additional commissioner Srinivas who was attacked by the Telangana activists a day before. However, Lagadapati was taken into custody and shifted to the Jubilee Hills Police Station. While the Congress MP was engaged in a heated argument with the police officials seeking an explanation on the reasons of his arrest, a group of Telangana advocates reached the police station shouting 'Jai Telangana' slogans.

The police clarified to Lagadapati that he was not arrested, but was taken into preventive custody fearing trouble. However, Lagadapati was not convinced leading to a heated argument in the police station. In order to avoid a direct confrontation between the Lagadapati's supporters and Telangana activists, the police forcibly pushed Lagadapati into his car. But the Congress MP refused to leave the place.

Meanwhile, West Zone DCP Stephen Ravindra also reached the sport and asked the policemen to tow the MP's car with the MP sitting in it. The Telangana activists, however, started pelting stones on the car breaking the rear wind shield. The police then resorted to cane-charge to disperse the rioters.

Later, addressing a press conference at his residence Lagadapati blamed Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao for the incident. He accused KCR of inciting violence and warned that the Congress workers would retaliate if their leaders were attacked anywhere in Telangana.

Lagadapati alleged that KCR and his family members were trying to gain mileage by inciting Telangana sentiments. He urged the Telangana leaders, especially those belonging to Congress party, to come out of KCR's clutches. He said KCR would pose a major threat to the career of all Telangana leaders if his pace was not stopped now.

However, Congress MPs from Telangana region - P Rajiah and Manda Jagannatham criticised Lagadapati for Tuesday's violence. They alleged that Lagadapati was trying to gain free publicity and was trying to emerge as the 'hero of Samaikhyandhra'.

Meanwhile, the Congress leaders of Seemandhra have called for 'Vijayawada Bandh' on Wednesday to protest against the attack on Lagadapati. But, the Group - I exam and Durga festival celebrations would be exempted from the bandh.