Andhra Pradesh parties YSRC, TDP protests create tension

VIJAYAWADA: Tension prevailed in Nandigama town on Saturday after workers of the ruling Telugu Desam Party and Opposition YSRC staged separate protests at the same venue demanding Special Category Status (SCS) to the State. Nandigama MLA Tangirala Sowmya and other TDP leaders sat on a protest in the TDP camp arranged at Gandhi Bomma Centre.

Meanwhile, Nandigama YSRC party convenor M Jagan Mohan Rao and his supporters staged a hunger strike at the same venue and criticised the Telugu Desam Party and Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu for his failure to get SCS despite four years of alliance with the BJP. The TDP leaders termed YSRC president YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy as “criminals”. The TDP leaders alleged that the resignation of YSRC MPs was a drama to gain sympathy of people.

This led to heated arguments and exchange of words between YSRC and TDP workers.   
When the verbal duel led to road blockage, police stepped in and brought the situation under control.
Nandigama division deputy superintendent of police P Murali said the opposition YSRC was asked to conduct protest in another place as the TDP had been staging the protest at Gandhi Bomma Centre for the last one week.

“Tension prevailed at the area for some time with both parties raising allegations against each other. Police dispersed the crowd and brought the situation under control,” the DSP said.