BJP, TDP workers come to blows for 1st time in Andhra

As the campaigning for Karnataka elections ended, situation in Andhra Pradesh got worse after war of words between BJP and TDP workers turning into physical attacks with BJP leaders attacking TDP cadre before BJP president Amit Shah.

Demanding Special Category status for Andhra Pradesh and displaying black flags and raising slogans “Amit Shah — go back”, local TDP workers tried to stop Shah’s convoy while he was returning after Balaji Darshan in Tirupati.

Angry local BJP leaders, who were controlling their desperation after TDP’s goodbye to the NDA, stepped down from the cars and launched attack on them.

Reacting on this, TDP president and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu said, “I am against violence, there can’t be even small clashes and

slight tensions in our movement for justice. Clashes and tensions are hurdles to development.”

Naidu made these remarks in the view of BJP president Amit Shah’s Tirupati visit, TDP’s protests for Special Category status and slight tensions between the TDP and BJP workers in Tirupati on Friday. He requsted the party workers to be disciplined and said they should act more responsibly when in power.

“We are doing 'Dharma Poratam (fight for justice) against the Centre for securing our rights. Any kind of tensions and clashes will only hinder our genuine fight and create hurdles to development. There should be constant discussion on injustice done to AP,” he said.

“While working hard for the development on one side, we must collectively fight for justice on the other. Whether the Centre cooperates or not, the development won’t stop. But, it is the Centre’s responsibility to cooperate for State’s development,” he added.