Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda   

Dattatreya held in Nalgonda

— PHOTO: SINGAM VENKATA RAMANA

On warpath: Police arresting a woman activist after BJP cadres tried to lay siege to the Collectorate in Nalgonda on Tuesday.

NALGONDA: Police on Tuesday arrested Bharatiya Janata Party president Bandaru Dattatreya and 66 others when they tried to lay siege to the Collectorate in protest against skyrocketing prices in the country.

Tension prevailed for sometime when the party cadres tried to barge into the Collectorate, challenging the police personnel who stood guard at the Collectorate’s main gate. “We arrested 67 persons, including Mr. Dattatreya, and later released them after obtaining personal bonds,” town Inspector Vijaya Paul said.

Earlier, led by Mr. Dattatreya, the party cadres took out a protest rally from the party district headquarters to the Collectorate. They raised slogans against the State and Union governments for “failing to control prices” in the country.

Party district unit president Goli Madhusudan Reddy, BJYM leader Kasam Venkateswarlu and other top leaders also took part in the programme.

Speaking to reporters, the BJP president charged the United Progressive Alliance Government with lacking a clear food security policy.

“In the post-Independence era, we are witnessing the highest rate of inflation. State and Central Governments failed to rein in prices and the policies of the Left parties are also responsible for the present fiasco,” he observed.

The BJP leader demanded that the Rajasekhara Reddy Government immediately call for an all-party meeting on the issue. “The Chief Minister asked the ministerial sub-committee to submit a report on prices within a week but there is no sign of such report even after ten days,” he said.

“Dr. Reddy is the main obstacle for the creation of separate State and he wishes to drag the issue as it gives him political mileage,” he added, saying that the BJP would field its candidates in the byelections.

He also lambasted the Telugu Desam for “lacking a clear stand” on the Telangana issue. “Chandrababu has failed as the Opposition leader and he lost his political balance,” Mr. Dattatreya said.

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