BJP rally triggers tension in Hyderabad

A rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) created mild tension in Hyderabad on Saturday with the police arresting its leaders and activists for trying to advance towards the state Secretariat, an official said.

State BJP president G. Kishan Reddy, senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya and other leaders and activists were arrested by the police at Indira Park.

The party had organised the rally to protest to what it called attempts by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to hurt religious sentiments of Hindus.  It alleged that the Congress government had become a tool in the hands of MIM.

The rally started from Baghlingam Pally and was to conclude at Indira Park but the protestors tried to march towards secretariat. There was tension as the police stopped the rally and the protestors entered into an argument with police.

Earlier, Kishan Reddy alleged that MIM was stalling the development work of Bhagyalakshmi Temple abutting the historic Charminar. He alleged Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was following diktats of the MIM.

The BJP leader also found fault with Telugu Desam Party and the Left parties for their silence over the MIM activities.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court earlier this week had directed the government not to allow expansion work at the temple. It was dealing with public interest litigations filed by three MIM leaders.

The expansion work at the temple abutting the monument had last week sparked tension in the communally sensitive old city.