Hyderabad: Braving massive presence of police and paramilitary forces and violating ban orders, thousands of people, demanding separate statehood to Telangana, reached Tank Bund in thie Andhra Pradesh capital for the 'million march'.
Raising slogans of 'Jai Telangana' and holding flags of various parties, the activists reached Tank Bund from different directions, though the police had sealed all the surrounding routes for vehicles.
The protestors broke the police barricade and removed the barbed wires at Ambedkar statue and were heading towards the road along Hussain Sagar Lake. The policemen deployed there were outnumbered by the protestors.
Four statues on Tank Bund were attacked by Telangana activists, including that of the poet-saint Annamacharya and Errapragada.
Also attacked were Congress MPs Madhu Yaskhi Goud and K. Kesava Rao 'for their failure to resign in support of the separate statehood agitation'.
The two MPs had separately made their way to the Tank Bund to express solidarity with the Million March being organised by the TJAC when they came under attack.
The MPs were stepping down the steps of the Dr BR Ambedkar statue after offering floral tributes to make their way to the Tank Bund when they were bombarded with slippers and water bottles.
Activists claimed the MPs had no moral right to join the Million March since they had not resigned in favour of Telangana and were sticking to their posts. They demanded that the MPs first tender their resignations and then take part in pro-Telangana agitations.
Meanwhile, police foiled attempts by political leaders to take out a rally from the old city as part of the Million March by arresting them.
Several pro-Telangana leaders belong to the BJP, CPI, Muslim League, TRS,
TDP and Jamat-e-Islami were arrested as soon as they started their rally from the historic Charminar. Officials also arrested Joint Action Committee convenor Kodandaram.
Talking to media persons, BJP leader Baddambal Reddy took exception to the arrests and accused the police of high-handedness. Mr Reddy said that the attempt to thwart the Million March was reflective of the government's attempt to suppress the legitimate voice of the Telangana people.
He said that the clamping down on a peaceful rally has unveiled the government which was against the formation of Telangana.
Daily life in and around Hyderabad and Secunderabad has taken a hit due to the march with police sealing roads and stopping train services.
Restrictions on movement of vehicles and their diversions left traffic on major roads like Lakdi-ka-Pul, Masab Tank, Punjagutta, Khairtabad, Ameerpet, Banjara Hills, Nampally, Begumpet out of gear.
Impact of the restrictions was also felt on arterial roads connecting the major lanes, with motorists struggling to reach workplaces.
About 70 per cent of business establishments in the area remained shut.