Telangana activists stone Andhra minister’s convoy

HYDERABAD - An Andhra Pradesh minister was Thursday forced to cut short his visit to Karimnagar district after those demanding a separate Telangana state went on the rampage and attacked his convoy with stones and eggs.

Housing Minister Shilpa Mohan Reddy faced the ire of Telangana activists during a visit to a cooperative bank at Mulkanoor in Karimnagar district.

Dozens of protesters, believed to be workers of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), who gatherer outside the bank raised slogans asking the minister to go back. They clashed with police and one of the protesters even tried to immolate himself but was stopped by policemen.

As the minister was leaving the venue in a hurry with police security, the protesters chased his convoy and hurled stones and eggs. The minister, however, escaped unhurt.

Reddy comes from Kurnool district in the Rayalaseema region. The TRS and other parties fighting for a separate Telangana state have vowed to stop ministers from moving around in the Telangana region for opposing the demand.

The decision by Telangana groups last month came after the ministers from the Telangana and Rayalaseema regions met Justice B.N. Srikrishna committee, examining the issue related to a separate state, and described as “anti-nationals” those demanding a Telangana state.

The protest against Reddy came close on the heels of a similar protest against former chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday. Telangana activists stoned his convoy in Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar districts.