Protests mark Formation Day celebrations

The state government celebrated Andhra Pradesh formation day on Monday amid protests by pro-Telangana outfits, which observed the anniversary as ‘black day’.

While chief minister, K Rosaiah, hoisted the national flag and reviewed a colourful parade as part of the celebrations at the NTR Stadium, supporters of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and various Telangana organisations and students observed it as a ‘betrayal day.’ The protestors included some of the ruling Congress party’s members of Parliament, hailing from the Telangana region.

Tension prevailed on the OU campus when police stopped a rally being taken out by pro-Telangana students. Some of the agitators were taken into custody when they tried to stop Rosaiah’s convoy near the latter’s residence in Ameerpet.

 

TRS legislator Harish Rao, along with other TRS activists, staged a demonstration before the residence of information and public relations minister, J Geeta Reddy.

The supporters of Telangana also pelted stones at the residence of Congress legislator M Shashidhar Reddy.

The agitators also tried to hoist black flags on government buildings at several places. Educational institutions in the state capital remained closed.