YSRC-TD protests, counter-protests create tension over delay in bridge works

Vijayawada: Protests and counter-protests by Telugu Desam and YSR Congress created tension in Yanamalakuduru of Krishna district on Tuesday over the non-completion of a bridge. The protests started with a display of the Idhemi Kharma Rashtraniki banner there and continued for a full five hours.

TD activists led by ex-MLA Bode Prasad staged a dharna in protest against the “negligence” of the YSRC government and demanded that the bridge’ works be completed at the earliest. Incensed, YSRC leaders and activists rushed to the spot and staged a counter-dharna alleging that TD leaders were creating hurdles in the bridge construction works through filing of court cases.

Ex legislator Prasad, former MP Konakalla Narayana Rao and other leaders reached the Yanamalakuduru Locks with party cadres to hold the protest. They tied banners to the bridge under construction and raised slogans against the YSRC government and local MLA Kolusu Pardha Saradhi.

In retaliation, a large number of YSRC cadres rushed to the bridge and tried to disperse the TD protesters. They demanded the removal of the TD banners from the bridge. They also asked the police to take away former MP Konakalla Narayana Rao and Bode Prasad from the bridge’s vicinity.

Heated arguments continued for a few hours between the TD and YSRC men. TDP leaders along with Konakalla Narayana Rao and Bode Prasad went one step further, climbed up the bridge with the help of ladders and continued their protest from there. The police tried to arrest the TD leaders but in vain and they continued the protests for a full five hours.

YSRC leaders alleged that TD supporters filed cases in the court against the bridge construction, which stalled the works. They demanded that TD leaders stop filing cases so that works could be speeded up.