TD protests Babli at CM’s office

BY J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad, Nov. 7: Telugu Desam leaders conducted a dharna at the camp office of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, at Begumpet on Friday alleging that they were not being allowed to meet him to discuss the controversial Babli project being built by Maharashtra. A team of Telugu Desam leaders from north Telangana led by the MP, Mr E. Dayakar Rao, and the MLA, Mr K. Srihari, arrived at the Chief Minister’s camp office on Friday morning.

They were accompanied by a large number of party workers and the security personnel gave permission only to senior leaders to go to the Chief Minister’s chamber. However, the Telugu Desam leaders demanded that all of them should be allowed to meet Dr Reddy. Security personnel turned down this demand and requested the TD leaders to wait outside till the Chief Minister came down and met them.

After a while, the Telugu Desam leaders staged a dharna in front of that office alleging that they were not being allowed to meet the Chief Minister. Police took them into custody and released them later. Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr Dayakar Rao and Mr Srihari said the Chief Minister had insulted them by refusing to meet them.

"The Babli project case is likely to be heard in the apex court on December 2, and we came here to furnish the Chief Minister with latest technical information and photos to help the state win the case," they said. "His refusal to meet us shows his lackadaisical attitude toward Telangana." The TD would launch an agitation against the Babli and will go to any extent to protect the rights of the farmers of the region, said Mr Dayakar Rao.