TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu's padayatra entered Telangana here on Monday evening without any significant opposition from the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) as feared earlier.
The only effort of the TJAC to oppose Mr. Naidu's yatra was seen at Shanthinagar, 8 km from here.
Its chairman, M. Kodandaram, and other leaders, including Swamy Goud and a few dozen TRS activists, tried to proceed towards this village to confront Mr. Naidu by seeking clarity on his party’s stand on statehood for Telangana.
TJAC leaders arrested
The leaders were arrested and taken to Kothakota police station, while the activists were detained at Shantinagar. Police restricted the movement of TJAC activists by taking them into custody at various places to prevent them from reaching the village to hold a meeting.
On the other hand, the TDP leaders mobilised a large crowd for receiving Mr. Naidu's yatra, now into its 21st day, on the left bank of Sunkesula barrage across the Tungabhadara after winding up the Rayalaseema leg of the ‘walkathon’. Party activists greeted him with the traditional ‘Bathukamma’ and by bursting of crackers. About 25 TDP MLAs and two MPs from the region gathered here along with their supporters in hundreds of vehicles.
Huge procession
A beaming Mr. Naidu was taken into the village in a big procession. Addressing the gathering, the TDP supremo said his party was never against Telangana and it was for the Congress to take a decision. He requested the people to take note of the dubious record of the Congress on the issue of granting statehood to Telangana and the power-hungry TRS.
