Tirupati: “Though they (Seemandhra leaders) know that the process of Telangana statehood has already begun, now they are making it an issue. Earlier, they had remained silent,” he said.
 
In protest against the remarks, about 300 Samaikyandhra activists blocked his vehicle at Alipiri while he was returning to Tirupati in the afternoon.
 
Surrounding his car, the mob shouted Samaikyandhra slogans and denounced Rao’s comments. Some even threw chappals and eggs at his vehicle.
 
Finally, the police had to resort to a lathicharge, in which a dozen protestors were injured. The police managed to escort Rao to the Renigunta airport amidst tight security. 
 
Earlier, when news of his remarks spread, activists of the Samaikyandhra movement gathered in large numbers at Alipiri. The Tirupati urban police, sensing trouble, suggested to Rao that he stay back at a cottage in Tirumala till further notice.
 
The protesting leaders then told the police that their intention was not to create trouble, but merely to give him a rose. On being told this, the police assured Rao that it was safe for him to drive down to Renigunta airport. 
 
‘YSRC is unable to digest my criticism’
 

Ch.V.M. Krishna Rao / DC
 
Hyderabad: Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao kicked up a storm in Tirumala on Saturday when he said government employees of Seemandhra origin working in Hyderabad would have to return after the state was bifurcated.
 
The remark prompted protests, and a crowd threw slippers and stones at his car at Alipiri. Excerpts from a brief interview. 
 
Who is responsible for the attack on you?
 
Definitely YSRC workers and the lower rung people. TD workers reached my vehicle and offered me flowers and asked for unified AP.
 
I told them I will take that to the notice of the Congress high command. But on the right side of my vehicle were YSRC people, mostly hired, who hurled slippers and stones at the car.
 
Why should they target you?
 
I have been criticising the policies and statements of Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. I have also said a number of times that YSR was responsible for all that happened here, including the Telangana state demand. They were unable to digest my criticism.
 
You told Seemandhra employees to leave Hyderabad, that they should not work in Hyderabad after the state is bifurcated?
 
What wrong I have said? I told the media that Seemandhra non-gazetted officers working in Hyderabad will have to leave after getting transferred to Seemandhra as per rules.
 
If some of them do not want to get transferred, they will have to quit their jobs and live in Hyderabad. What is wrong in this?
 
You also said people from other regions will need a visa to visit Tirumala.
 
Remember what YSR said at Nandyal immediately after polling was over in Telangana in 2009, He said one would need visas to visit Hyderabad if the state is divided.
 
I condemned his comment then. Now I am convinced that Telangana people would need visas to visit Tirupati and other places of pilgrimage.

 
Leaders condemn attack on VHR
 

Hyderabad: Several Telangana and Seemandhra ministers condemned the incident of Samaikyandhra agitators throwing eggs and footwear at Congress MP and former PCC president V. Hanumantha Rao at Tirumala. 
 
Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Pitani Satyanarayana, P. Bala Raju and K. Jana Reddy speaking to the media separately on Saturday said that such incidents should not be encouraged.
 
Minister Jana Reddy appealed to the people to maintain peace and avoid provocations. He said that the Tirumala incident was very unfortunate. 
 
Telangana people, students and employees in Seemandhra region came in for sharp criticism from TRS and Telangana Joint Action Committee. 
 
TNGOs president, Deviprasad demanded that the government repatriate Telangana employees posted in Seemandhra region to their respective places. They also demanded unconditional apology from Seemandhra leaders. 
 
TRS deputy floor leader, T. Harish Rao questioned the rationale behind attacking people of Telangana while demanding a united state. “We never indulged in such attacks. It’s like a man threatening to throw acid on a girl  in order to gain her affection,” he said.