BJP leaders and activists headed by senior leaders M. Venkaiah Naidu and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were taken into custody when they made an unsuccessful bid to storm the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
The BJP activists, who took out a rally in line with the nationwide agitation call given by the party’s central leadership, moved towards the Assembly. The police forces deployed in good numbers, however, prevented them from marching ahead leading to jostling that finally culminated in their arrest.
Mr. Venkaiah Naidu asserted that the Government could not prevent the rising public anger by arresting those representing the people’s cause. Addressing the protestors earlier, he alleged that hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities had become rampant ever since the Congress Government took over in the State and the Centre.
He said though it was necessary for the State Governments to take steps to check prices, the Centre had a crucial role in checking the skyrocketing prices of the essentials. He recalled how the previous National Democratic Alliance Government succeeded in keeping prices under leash in spite of drought, cyclone and the sanctions imposed on the country in the aftermath of Pokhran II.
BJP State president Bandaru Dattattreya and other leaders including N. Indrasena Reddy, K. Laxman and Chinta Samba Murthy were among those arrested and released later.
