This Article is From Sep 05, 2012

Telangana protests: BJP holds dharna at Jantar Mantar

Telangana protests: BJP holds dharna at Jantar Mantar
New Delhi: High drama was once again witnessed on the streets of Delhi today as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a day-long dharna over the Telangana issue at Jantar Mantar.

Addressing a group of party activists from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj promised to form a separate state of Telangana within three months if it formed a Central government.

Sushma Swaraj, who went to the protest venue after Parliament was adjourned till 12 noon, said: "Within three months of BJP coming to power at the Centre, we will form a Telangana state."

Criticising the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for going back on its promise of carving out Telangana, she said: "Do not trust the UPA government any more."

Earlier, BJP leader Arun Jaitley also addressed the party workers from Telangana at Jantar Mantar.

On Tuesday, drama unfolded at around noon outside the Parliament Street Police Station, less than a km from the highly-fortified Parliament House complex, when hundreds of BJP cadre from Andhra Pradesh tried to march towards the Prime Minister's residence demanding a separate state, forcing police to use water cannons and tear gas shells to quell them.

The protesters marched from Jantar Mantar, where they have been holding an agitation since Monday.

The BJP cadres led by party leader Prakash Javadekar tried breaking the barricades after they were stopped by a large posse of policemen outside the station and even attempted to clash with the police.

The protesters also courted arrest and went inside the station where they raised slogans against the UPA government.

The protesters were demanding the Centre immediately take steps to form a separate state of Telangana.

BJP, the principal Opposition party at the Centre, is supporting the demand for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and has accused the Congress of cheating the people of Telangana.

(With inputs from Agencies)
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