Telugu groups’ meet in Bengaluru creates flutter

A meeting of the Telugu associations in Bengaluru on Sunday, which Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers’ Association (APNGOA) leader A. Vidya Sagar denied as linked to the elections to the Karnataka Assembly, discussed the problems faced by them post-bifurcation.

Attended by APNGOA president P. Ashok Babu and others, the meeting went on for a couple of hours amidst reported attempts by some dissenting groups to scuttle it.

A posse of policemen deployed at the hotel where the deliberations were held ensured that no untoward incident happened as tempers frayed over the injustice allegedly meted out by the BJP to A.P. in the implementation of the Reorganisation Act and the Central government’s rejection of the demand for the Special Category Status (SCS).

Mr. Sagar told the media that the meeting was not intended to campaign on behalf of any political party for the Karnataka elections. He denied reports that representatives of the APNGOA had exhorted the Telugu people to vote against the BJP and rival groups among them had obstructed the proceedings.

BJP sees red

Meanwhile, the APNGOA’s leaders came in for sharp criticism from the BJP State unit.

MLC Somu Veerraju said the TDP was spreading falsehood against the BJP in Karnataka but it would be of no use as the people were aware of the facts. BJYM State president S. Vishnuvardhan Reddy accused them of acting as the agents of the TDP.