Hyderabad: The TRS has blamed the Communists, the TJAC and its affiliates for Monday’s violence at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park and demanded stringent action against the “culprits”.
Home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, IT minister K.T. Rama Rao and TRS MLC Karne Prabhakar flayed the Opposition for the violence, alleging that the parties were trying their best to save their base.
“CPI and CPM activists attacked the locals. Opposition is scared that people, including farmers who are getting quality power, fertilisers etc., are not with them. Communists have lost base and they are struggling to hook on to some party,” Mr Narasimha Reddy alleged.
The home minister said locals have been demanding shifting of Dharna Chowk in view of the problems faced by them. “The police had given permission to hold a peaceful dharna,” he said.
Elsewhere, Mr Rama Rao tweeted, “There is a dearth of issues for the Opposition in Telangana. Try as they might to manufacture artificial dissent, it won’t work in democracy.”
“The violence was deliberate and aimed at creating anarchy in the city, browbeat morning walkers and local residents opposing continuation of Dharna Chowk as it was causing huge inconvenience,” said Mr Prabhakar, the TRS spokesperson.
He demanded TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, TD working president A. Revanth Reddy and CPM leader Tammineni Veerabhadram apologise to the people for the violence, saying that “goons of their parties were behind it”.
“The issue is pending in the High Court. The court has to take a final decision. The government hasn’t taken any decision, to either allow protests or not at this venue,” Mr Prabhakar said.
He requested police to book cases against those who indulged in violence including attacks on morning walkers and local residents demanding Dharna Chowk.
The TRS MLC said locals around Indira Park have been opposing Dharna Chowk since the past 10 years and finally moved court. “They have been pleading that it has become a big nuisance, causing traffic jam and disturbing peace in the locality. They want it to be shifted to another place. Why not wait till the court takes a decision?” he asked.
Nod not given, protests only allowed, says cops
Hyderabad police officials said that they had officially not given permission to either group of protesters to gather at Dharna Chowk on Monday.
However, since there was an ‘oral assurance’ from the protesters of peace being kept, the police ‘allowed’ them to gather at the spot.
“The Dharna Chowk Parirakshana Committee had not officially submitted any application seeking permission, hence we did not give any. However, they orally they assured us that everything would be peaceful. They said they wanted to express their opinion. So we allowed them to gather there. Normally, if they gather there without permission, we make arrests. This time we did not take anybody into preventive custody on the assurance that peace will be kept,” said Central Zone deputy commissioner of police D. Joel Davis.
Senior officials said that they did not stop the counter protesters also. “They were in small numbers and they told us that they wanted to express their grievances as well. Hence we did not stop them too,” said police commissioner Mahender Reddy.
The agitators alleged that the decision of the police to allow both parties at the same place paved the way for the violence.
