Hyderabad, January 28: In an unusual turn of events, ruling Congress workers created a scene at the Rachabanda attended by a MIM legislator in the Old City protesting against the delay in construction of a flyover.
Scores of TRS and BJP workers were taken into preventive custody when they tried to disrupt the official government programme at three other places in the city and its outskirts.
Tension prevailed at the Rachabanda programme held at Begum Bazar with the followers of marketing minister M Mukesh Goud chasing away the TRS and BJP workers who tried to disrupt the programme.
In the Old City, local Congress leaders led by Raja Ratnam created a scene at the Rachabanda attended by Chandrayangutta legislator MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi at Uppuguda. The MIM and Congress workers came to near blows but the police intervened and dispersed them.
According to police, minutes after Akbaruddin Owaisi left the place a few Congress workers reached the place and raised slogans against the MLA for the delay in construction of a flyover over the railway tracks at Uppuguda. They said though several people were mowed down by trains while crossing tracks, the local legislator is not taking any steps for the construction of the flyover.
As the workers of both the parties were about to clash, police intervened and dispersed the groups. Seven Congress workers were taken into preventive custody and later let off.
At the Rachabanda attended by Mukesh Goud at Baider Wadi, a large number of TRS and BJP workers tried to force their way to the venue to disrupt the programme. Mukesh Goud’s followers entered into a heated argument with the protestors when the police intervened.
Congress workers reportedly tried to manhandle the protestors when the police were shifting the latter from the place. Police took 36 BJP and TRS workers into preventive custody and later let them off.
Meanwhile, TRS and BJP workers intercepted the convoy of minister D Sridhar Babu and Serilingampally legislator K Srisailam Goud at Dhulapally leading to some tense moments.
The duo attended Rachabanda programme at Qutbullapur and were returning to the legislator’s house when their convoy was obstructed.
Police had to face stiff resistance to disperse the protestors and clear way for the minister as the BJP and TRS workers squatted on the road for nearly 30 minutes causing severe obstruction to traffic.
Cantonment legislator P Shankar Rao too had to face some embarrassing moments at a couple of programmes that he attended. Police took several local TRS and pro-Jagan group leaders into preventive custody before Shankar Rao attended the programme at Valmiki Nagar.
Even as the programme was underway, a couple of Jagan supporters and TRS women activists tried to disrupt the proceedings but were taken into custody.
Few Left Party activists were also arrested when they raised slogans against the minister for not giving an assurance on giving water connections to the locals.
From there, Shankar Rao went to attend another programme at Bowenpally but he reportedly had to make a hasty retreat as local women vented their ire against him for failing to solve their problems.
–Agencies