The Hindu : Front Page : Free-for-all at ‘belt shop’ meeting

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Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
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Free-for-all at ‘belt shop’ meeting

Special Correspondent

Roja’s dig at Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief
K. Chandrasekhar Rao leads to clash between TRS and TDP workers

PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar

FRAYED tempers: Telugu Desam and TRS workers clash at the meeting on ‘belt shops’ in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD: A remark by Telugu Mahila chief and actress Roja against Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao sparked a clash between activists of the two parties at a meeting demanding ban on ‘belt shops’ and arrack here on Friday.

Making an unflattering remark about Mr. Rao’s habits, the president of the TDP women’s wing criticised TRS leaders for taking part in the meeting and accused them of being hungry for power.

An infuriated TRS MLA Nayini Narasimha Reddy asked her if she was witness to Mr. Rao’s habits. Other TRS followers rushed to the platform shouting at Ms. Roja who received support from TDP workers.

Jana Chaitanya Vedika (JCV), an NGO that convened the meeting, called it off after a nearly 90-minute-long wrangling between followers of the two parties. Some workers even got down to physical attacks and abuse.

Roja was later escorted out by TDP activists as the rival group squatted on the road and burnt her effigy.

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