Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao and Telugu Desam MLA A. Revanth Reddy were involved in heated exchange of words leading to tension and slogan shouting by their supporters at a meeting to mark the foundation stone laying for a road work at Bogaram village of Kosgi mandal in Mahabubnagar district on Thursday afternoon.
Denial of waterThe village is part of Kodangal Assembly constituency represented by Mr. Reddy where the minister while addressing the meeting raised the chorus of the crowd asking whether it was not true that Telugu Desam president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu tried to deny water to Mahbubnagar by setting up obstacles to Palamuru–Ranga Reddy irrigation project. Mr. Rao alleged that the TDP Mahanadu held at Tirupati recently opposed the project through a resolution and sent it to the Central government.
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Taking exception to Mr. Rao raising issues connected to other States and other parties, Mr. Reddy tried to unsuccessfully snatch the mike from the former even as he continued raising his voice against Mr. Naidu. The Telugu Desam and TRS supporters rushed to the stage, raising slogans against each other.
The police pacified the crowd but it was the end of the meeting as Mr. Rao could not resume his speech though he tried it.
Earlier, students of Osmania University blocked the convoy of the Minister as it entered the village protesting against his remarks against Telangana Joint Action Committee Chairman M. Kodandaram.
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They demanded answers to issues raised by Mr. Kodandaram rather than targeting him.