PNS|Nirmal
The police foiled the indefinite fast undertaken by former MLA and BJP leader Aleti Maheswar Reddy by detaining and shifting him to the Government Hospital. The police entered his house where he undertook the fast around 2 am on Monday and whisked him away. He was admitted to Government Hospital.
It may be recalled that Maheswar Reddy had been on the fast for five days demanding that the master plan released by Nirmal Municipality be withdrawn.
When a heavy police force reached Maheswar Reddy’s house, the BJP activists made a vain bid to block their way. The police resorted to lathicharge repeatedly to break up the agitating party activists.
Tension was palpable in the town as the police attempted to detain Maheswar Reddy and shift him to hospital to break his fast.
Maheswar Reddy broke the fast after Union Minister for Tourism and BJP State unit president G Kishan Reddy offered him lemon juice and broke the fast.
The BJP took advantage of the farmers’ opposition to the master plan and launched the agitation. The farmers expressed the fear that their lands may be acquired on the pretext of developmental activities.
The farmers and the BJP leaders alleged that the master plan was designed in a way as to harm the interests of farmers. The agricultural lands under the green zone, the farmers said, would be forcibly acquired by the government, if the master plan is implemented, in the name of developmental activities. The ruling party leaders, the BJP leaders alleged, have been purchasing lands marked under full water level at low prices.
The BRS leaders, however, denied having bought the lands. They said that the master plan was only a draft to enable the people to convey their objections. They accused the BJP of creating panic among the farmers.
