Hyderabad, June 27: Scores of activists belonging to TDP, BJP and Left parties were taken into custody after they took to the streets today burning effigies of Chief Minister K Rosaiah, organising road blocks and holding demonstrations, demanding rollback of the petrol, domestic gas and diesel prices.
More than 50 activists of the TDP led by senior leader Teegala Krishna Reddy laid seige in front of the Chief Rationing Office (CRO) at Secunderabad while shouting slogans against the UPA government. In a novel protest, the women members prepared food using firewood in front of the CRO office.
When the TDP activists tried to enter the CRO office, police used mild force and took them into custody.
Similar protests were organised at several places in the city. TDP workers held a `rasta roko’ at Kukatpally crossroads where they burnt the Chief Minister in effigy and raised slogans against the Central Government. Traffic was thrown out of gear as the protesters blocked the main thoroughfares.
CPM workers took out a procession with bullock carts from Narayanaguda junction to RTC cross roads even as CITU activists pushed their two-wheelers as a mark of protest. The AIDWA workers burnt the Petroleum Minister Murli Deora in effigy after taking out the rally while the CPI activists staged a rasta roko at Narayanaguda crossroads.
The TDP official spokesman, Nannapaneni Rajakumari at a press conference decried the hike and demanded immediate roll back. The BJP state president, G. Kishan Reddy, criticised the Centre and asked the MPs to bring pressure on the government to retain the old prices.
—Agencies