TDP, BJP stage protest against TRS govt move to construct new

Opposition parties including, the TDP and BJP in Telangana Thursday staged a protest here against the TRS government's move to construct new buildings for Secretariat and legislature.

As many as 52 protesters including Telangana Jana Samiti president M Kodandaram, and TDP's Telangana unit Chief L Ramana,were taken into preventive custody when they tried to march towards the Secretariat from Dharna Chowk, police said.

Later, all of them were let off.

They held a protest at Dharna Chowk and from there they tried to take out a procession towards Secretariat when police stopped them from doing so, they said.

The protesters raised slogans against the TRS government and the police.

".. all of us are opposing the misuseof public money which should be spent on fulfilling basic needs.. Today's protest is not only against demolition of secretariat buildings but against the undemocratic attitude of the government," Kodandaram told reporters here.

TDP leader Ramana condemned the state government's alleged attitude in curbing the protests using police.

Noting that there were several issues like rainfall deficiency, which put farmers in a quandary, BJP leader and former minister DK Aruna alleged Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was focused on demolition of buildings instead of addressing burning issues.

Rao had recently laid foundation stones for construction of new buildings for Secretariat and legislature.

Dismissing opposition criticism, TRS leaders have said the government aimed at constructing new buildings for people's convenience and in a way that reflected the pride of Telangana.