Hyderabad:
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been taken into preventive custody ahead of his 'Odarpu Yatra' in Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh.
Defying Congress high command's directive, Jagan Mohan Reddy had left for his six-day yatra from Mahabubabad to console the families of those who allegedly committed suicide following the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
He was slated to meet 77 families in 72 villages in the Warangal during his tour and also unveil the statues of his late father at about 40 places, sources said.
Jagan went gone ahead with his 'yatra' despite a directive by the Congress high command which asked him not to undertake the tour in view of the surcharged atmosphere in the region.
"The high command does not approve of it (the yatra). It is not desirable to go there at present. I have told him not to go ahead with the yatra," Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily, in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, had said on Thursday.
Though Jagan has made it clear that his yatra is purely personal without any political element, it is being vehemently opposed by TRS and other Telangana outfits as he is opposed to separate Telangana demand.
The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising TRS and various people's organisations vowed to stop the yatra. Students of Osmania University here and Kakatiya University in Warangal have warned that they will go to any extent to stop the yatra during the six-day tour.
"We will definitely stop Jagan's yatra if he goes to Warangal district," JAC Convener C Kodandaram has said.
Pro-Telangana students, lawyers and other sections were gathering at Mahabubabad to stage demonstrations when Jagan kicks off the yatra.
Interestingly, 11 Congress MPs from Telangana region have urged the party high command to direct Jagan to drop his plans as tempers were running high in Telangana.
Meanwhile, police went into a tizzy after they recovered a country-made bomb kept in a bag at the Mahabubabad bus station on Thursday. It was later defused.
"The bag contained a country-made bomb which was later defused," a senior police official of the Warangal range said.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made by police at the Secunderabad railway station from where Jagan left for his yatra and also at the places to be visited by him.
Scores of TRS activists and other Telangana protagonists, who were trying to stop Jagan's yatra, have been taken into custody by the police.
Hectic activity was witnessed on Thursday to dissuade Jagan from going ahead with his tour as police officials have reportedly warned of law and order problems in the region.
"The matter is being considered by the high command. It is a party affair. I can talk about it if it is related to the government. However, I have directed the police to take all precautions in an impartial manner," Rosaiah told reporters
He was understood to have discussed the issue with his Cabinet colleagues following which Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy and Home Minister P Sabita Reddy held talks with Jagan. They have reportedly urged him to defer the visit in view of the surcharged atmosphere.
Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, a close friend of late Rajasekhara Reddy, also held a meeting with Jagan late on Thursday night over the yatra.
"You have to ask Jagan," Rao told reporters last night when asked if Jagan was going ahead with his tour.