Chief Minister K. Rosaiah triggered a controversy by addressing a dharna staged by the Congress party on the road at Basheerbagh here on Friday to denounce the remarks of RSS leader K.S. Sudarshan against AICC president Sonia Gandhi. The area, hardly one kilometre away from the Assembly, is declared a red zone' where all demonstrations are barred and Section 144 is in force.

Telugu Desam and BJP leaders were quick to criticise the Chief Minister's presence at the dharna while Congress leaders were embarrassed by the episode. They wanted cases booked against all the participants. The dharna was called by APCC chief D. Srinivas while Health Minister Danam Nagender, who is City Congress president, made arrangements for it.

Sources said the Chief Minister was on his way back to Secretariat from Uppal stadium after inaugurating the India-New Zealand cricket Test match, when he joined the dharna. Former Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskar Rao was among those present.

Published Date : Saturday, Nov 13, 03:13PM IST

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