In his public address at the MPP Ground in Palakurthy, Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu said, "I have never spoken against Telangana statehood." Mr Naidu said that the TD is the party of weaker sections of society and has always stood for development. "Our party will take up the fight on behalf of the farmers by joining hands with national level parties," he said.
"I am with you always. I have come here to understand your problems and will fight till you get justice," the former CM promised, even as the farmers poured out their woes. On Telangana, Mr Naidu said, that he was not against Telangana. "It is the responsibility of the Congress to take a decision on the statehood issue as it has the authority," he said.
The Leader of Opposition spit fire at the TRS for trying to block his Warangal district tour that was meant to console farmers in distress. "We shall not be cowed down by petty protests by some mobs and shall fight for the farmers. If TRS has any shame, it too should support us in this regard," Mr Naidu said. He also warned that whoever tried to harm the TD would themselves be wiped out. Earlier, Mr Naidu got farmers all along the padayatra route to speak about the problems they faced even as heavy deployment of over 3,000 police personnel remained on alert to foil any untoward incident in Palakurthy.
Along the route, in Nekkonda, scores of rival TD and TRS/TJAC supporters clashed at the government high school. Twenty two wheelers were damaged, a bus was burnt while Nekkonda police station head constable V.K. Sambaiah and ex-MPTC M Ramu were injured. In Narsampet, stonepelting by local TRS TJAC supporters damaged 17 Palakurthy bound vehicles injuring eight people.
Mr Naidu's convey was also attacked at Jangaon town by about 100 people wielding empty beer bottles and stones. Police had to resort to a lathi charge. Three people were injured including a reporter. Five students who tried to throw slippers and water sachets at Mr Naidu were beaten up by TD activists before cops rescued them.
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