Fasting Naidu arrested, TDP calls for shutdown
December 20th, 2010 - 11:11 am ICT by IANSHyderabad, Dec 20 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is on an indefinite fast demanding relief package for farmers, was arrested early Monday and taken to hospital, triggering statewide protests by the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that has called for a shutdown.Naidu, along with his son Lokesh, and several TDP leaders were forcibly removed from the hunger strike camp in the New MLA Quarters amid high drama and tension around 4.30 a.m.
The leader of opposition was shifted to Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), where he is continuing his fast. TDP leaders claimed that he has also refused to undergo treatment.
The TDP chief is on a fast for the last four days demanding that the government pay adequate compensation to farmers who lost their crops in recent rains.
Angry over Naidu’s arrest, TDP called for a state-wide shutdown Monday. Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supported the call.
Opposition activists took to the streets in different parts of the state, stopped buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) and forced closure of educational institutions and shops.
Protests against Naidu’s arrest broke out in different parts of Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Guntur and other towns.
TDP leaders alleged that Naidu’s son Lokesh sustained minor injuries when policemen lifted him as he tried to resist his father’s arrest. Several party leaders sustained bruises in the melee.
Police were gearing up to arrest Naidu since Sunday evening as his blood pressure, sugar and sodium level fell significantly. Earlier, he rejected the appeal by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy to end his fast.
Around midnight, police made an attempt to convince Naidu to call off his fast but failed. The TDP leaders also resisted police attempt to arrest Naidu around 1 a.m. by forming a human chain and locking the gates of the New MLA Quarters from inside.
However, a few hours later police broke open the door and arrested Naidu and others.
- Naidu arrested during indefinite fast, TDP calls shutdown (Lead) - Dec 20, 2010
- Naidu continues fast in hospital, condition deteriorates (Night Lead) - Dec 21, 2010
- Fasting Naidu arrested, Andhra rocked by TDP protests (Second Lead) - Dec 20, 2010
- Fasting TDP chief Naidu taken into custody, hospitalized - Dec 20, 2010
- Naidu forcibly given IV fluids, TDP says fast on - Dec 24, 2010
- Chandrababu Naidu's indefinite fast enters third day - Dec 19, 2010
- Naidu continues fast despite doctors' warning (Second Lead) - Dec 22, 2010
- Naidu breaks fast following appeal by allies (Night Lead) - Dec 24, 2010
- TDP leaders held during march as Naidu continues fast (Lead) - Dec 24, 2010
- Naidu continues fast in hospital - Dec 21, 2010
- Naidu continues fast, chief minister to call all-party meet - Dec 23, 2010
- Naidu continues fast for farmers, keeps doctors away - Dec 22, 2010
- Fasting Naidu's health may deteriorate further, warn doctors (Lead) - Dec 22, 2010
- Chandrababu among many arrested in Hyderabad - Jul 05, 2010
- Opposition strike hits hard Andhra Pradesh (Lead) - Jul 05, 2010
Tags: adequate compensation, andhra pradesh chief, chandrababu naidu, chief minister, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, early monday, educational institutions, high drama, hunger strike, kiran kumar, leader of opposition, lokesh, nims, opposition activists, police attempt, road transport, sodium level, statewide protests, transport corporation