AP: MLAs tread novel protest paths to reach Assembly

Leaders of almost all the opposition parties reached the Assembly, on the first day of its monsoon session, here on Monday making symbolic protest against the central and sate governments’ policies and neglect of people’s welfare.

Leader of the opposition and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu led a march from the Ambedkar statue near the Tank Bund holding lanterns to highlight the power crisis. He accused the Congress government of betraying farmers. Several MLAs and MLCs of his party took part in it. YSR Congress Party honorary president and MLA YS Vijayalakshmi and her party MLAs  reached the Assembly by a bullock-cart from her residence in Babjara Hills. En route she was greeted by people all along the route who waved their hands at her. Some other MLAs went in cycle-rickshaws, performing Vanta-Varpu (cooking) along the way, in a symbolic protest against government’s alleged negligence towards common man’s problems. Police stopped the caravan at the Jubilee Hall gate and did not allow  bullock-carts and cycle-rikshas further.

Speaking to reporters, YS Vijayalakshmi said all sections of society were facing serious problems and the common man was unable bear the additional financial burden placed by the UPA government by increasing the diesel price and capping the number of subsidised domestic gas cylinders. TRS legislators paid rich tributes to Telangana Martyrs at Gun Park before entering the Assembly premises which they did holding the national and party flags, and placards.

TRS Legislature Party leader E Rajendar, who led the procession, demanded that the government introduce a resolution on the Telangana statehood issue in the Assembly.

BJP MLAs G Kishan Reddy, Y Laxminarayana and Yannam Srinivas Reddy left their party office at Nampally holding the national flag and shouting ‘Jai Telangana’ slogan.

CPM MLA J Ranga Reddy and MLC Ch Sitaramaiah cycled their way to the Assembly from the Old MLA Quarters. They shouted slogans demanding seven-hour free power supply to farmers and rollback of all hiked prices.