Hyderabad: TRS and BJP activists came to blows in the presence of BJP national executive member Nagam Janardhan Reddy in Mahbubnagar on Saturday.
Dr Reddy, along with party leaders, had convened a press conference at the R&B Guesthouse when a group of slogan shouting TRS activists gate-crashed the event and tried to assault him. In the melee, TRS activists broke glass panes and some furniture.
When BJP activists confronted them, a scuffle ensued between the two. A couple of workers suffered minor injuries. Police immediately took away the TRS workers.
Mahbubnagar BJP president R Pandu Reddy lodged a complaint with police alleging assault on Dr Reddy and other BJP leaders by TRS activists. TRS activists alleged Dr Reddy was trying to stall construction of Palamur lift irrigation project.
Dr Reddy has come in the eye of the storm after he visited the project site along with an advocated from Rayalaseema. Refuting the TRS allegations, Dr Reddy said he was not against projects, but TRS government’s corrupt practices.
“Palamur lift irrigation project cost was hiked from Rs 35,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore. A lot of irregularities are taking place in construction of irrigation projects in the state. Rules are modified to favour some Andhra contractors by the CM.
In Telangana, out of projects costing Rs 80,000 crore, Rs 75,000 crore works are given to Andhra contractors. Why? During Telangana movement, Andhra leaders were accused of looting the state. How can the TS CM now give projects to them?” he asked.
Andhra contractors, he said, were sub leasing works to Telangana contractors. “There is corruption. TRS activists are behaving like Razakaars. Ministers are behind the attack on me,” he said.
TD former MLA K. Dayakar Reddy called on the BJP leader. Meanwhile, R&B minister Tummala Nageswara Rao advised the Opposition not to stall construction of irrigation projects. Stating that the government would accept constructive suggestions, he said that the Opposition should not cheat people with false allegations.
“If they have better ideas and designs for the projects, let them submit to government. We will certainly consider it. But they should not do anything that will stall projects which are aimed at providing drinking water and irrigation facilities to drought-hit and other areas,” he said.
