TRS disrupts TDPs Ranabheri meet in Karimnagar

HYDERABAD: Telangana Telugu Desam Forum’s Ranabheri in Karimnagar, its maiden public meeting for Telangana cause, was marred by large scale violence on Wednesday with Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) workers disrupting it.The TRS workers set fire to the TDP office in Karimnagar, tore TDP banners and Chandrababu Naidu’s flexis even as the police arrested them for resorting to violence.Even TRS women workers made a bonfire of TDP flags. At several places in Karimnagar, pitched battles were fought between the TDP and TRS cadres though policemen in large numbers were deployed for security.In the evening, amidst tight security, the TDP organised the public meeting for which a fair number of people turned out where the speakers targeted TRS leaders and TDP rebel Nagam Janardhan Reddy.The situation had remained surcharged in Telangana districts since morning to evening with the TRS cadres besieging the district collectorates in response to the party’s call demanding introduction of Telangana bill in Parliament. Apprehending trouble, the police arrested several local leaders last night itself.In Karimnagar, apart from the regular protests, the TRS cadres who were hell- bent on disrupting the TDP Ranabheri, went on the rampage in the town. They were against the conduct of public meeting since they believe it had a hidden agenda to dilute the movement for a separate state at the instance of TDP chief.They demanded that Chandrababu spell out his stand on Telangana issue without beating around the bush with his two-eyed policy and that he should send a letter to the Centre that the TDP was committed to the Telangana cause.The public meeting drew the attention of Telangana activists because it was held after the forum recommended to the party president that rebel leader Nagam be suspended from the TDP for holding meetings on Telangana without the party flag.The TRS workers were angry with TDP leaders for attacking them yesterday while they were making a bonfire of TDP flags and Chandrababu’s flexis. Another factor that stoked flames was the rumour that people from Andhra region settled in Hyderabad were mobilised for the public meeting.