Hyderabad, Oct 22 (IANS): TRS and TDP workers clashed in Nalgonda district Wednesday as the row over sharing of water and electricity between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh took a violent turn.
Tension prevailed in Nalgonda district as police arrested top leaders of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) during a shutdown called by them to protest the burning down of their party office by workers of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
TRS workers Wednesday attacked cars of TDP leaders at Chityal. Window panes of the vehicles were damaged in the attack.
Trouble broke out when police prevented several TDP leaders including L. Ramana, E. Dayakar Rao and M. Narasimhulu as they were going around in the district along with their supporters. Condemning the police attitude, they staged a protest on the highway. The TRS supporters launched a counter sit-in, leading to a clash.
Police arrested TDP leaders and shifted them to a police station. Another key leader Revant Reddy was arrested in Ranga Reddy district when he was on his way to Nalgonda.
The TRS activists had Tuesday set afire the TDP office in Nalgonda to protest what they call attempts by TDP government in Andhra Pradesh to stall electricity generation by Telangana at Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar across Krishna river.
Andhra APradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Krishna River Management Board to stop Telangana from releasing water from Srisailam reservoir for power generation as this will hit supply to Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur districts for irrigation and drinking water needs. Naidu, who is the TDP president, has also sought the central government intervention to stop Telangana from using water at Nagarjuna Sagar dam for power generation.
TRS has accused Naidu of playing dirty politics to harm the interests of Telangana, which is reeling under severe electricity shortage. "He is playing double game. On one hand he is depriving Telangana of electricity while on the other instigating his party leaders in Telangana to protest over electricity shortage and the problems faced by farmers," said TRS parliamentarian Vinod Kumar.
TRS activists in various parts of Telangana took to streets to protest against TDP. They staged sit-in at TDP offices in districts. The protestors set afire TDP office in Nalgonda.
TDP leaders in Telangana, however, launched a counter attack on TRS. M. Narasimhulu said TRS is blaming TDP to divert people's attention from its failures on all fronts.