Andhra Pradesh - Others   

BJP keen to ignite beedi row as passengers flare up

Staff Reporter

STOP THERE: Movement of vehicular traffic comes to a standstill on the NH-7 at Kamareddy on Tuesday due to BJP maha dharna. - Photo: K.V. Ramana

KAMAREDDY: The BJP-sponsored maha dharna on Tuesday demanding the Central Government to remove the printing of danger mark on beedi packets brought traffic on the National Highway-7 to a grinding halt, leaving passengers fretting and fuming.

State president Bandaru Dattatreya warned that his party would stage a dharna in front of Parliament if the Centre did not relent. A large number of women attended the dharna which severely affected the movement of vehicular traffic on the NH-7 from Toopran to Sone Bridge on the border of Adilabad district.

Dharnas were also staged at Dichpally, Jakranpally, Armoor, Balkonda and Kammarpally blocking the NH-7 and the NH-16 in the district.

Squarely blaming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for the controversial G.O. 297, he said because of it, lakhs of poor families depending on beedi rolling in Telangana would be on the roads. Alleging that Union Ministers accepted bribes from cigarette manufacturers and MNCs to target the beedi industry, he said: "If the danger mark is allowed to be printed on beedis, why not on soft drinks, cigarettes and liquor?"

KARIMNAGAR: Traffic on the busy Karimnagar-Metpally road on the State Highway came to a halt following the dharna. BJP leaders put up tents all along the road while women workers took part in large numbers. Following the non-diversion of traffic, road users were put to serious inconvenience. Passengers travelling in various modes of transport lost their cool and protested against the agitating leaders. Party leader Ch. Vidyasagar Rao participated in the dharna at Rekurthi village. Mr. Rao criticised the Government for not fulfilling its promise of removing the danger mark.

30 partymen held

ADILABAD: Some 30 BJP activists staging a rasta roko were arrested by police at Dasnapur. Police also evacuated BJP activists and leaders from Shivaji Chowk in Nirmal and in Ichoda mandal headquarters. Flow of traffic was hit at some places. Party workers led by former MLA Baddam Bal Reddy and a few beedi workers staged a sit-in on the NH-7 at Shivaji chowk where they cooked food on the road.

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