NEET row: BJP, Congress workers clash during protests in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, July 22 (IANS) Workers of BJP and Congress clashed near the BJP office in Hyderabad on Wednesday as both the parties protested against each other over Tuesday’s incidents in New Delhi during the protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence by Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leaks.
While leaders and cadres of the BJP tried to take out a rally to protest what they called breach of security by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress party staged a protest in front of the BJP’s office to condemn detention of Rahul Gandhi and other leaders.
The activists of both the parties attacked each other with sticks and stones, resulting in injuries to some of the workers and a policewoman.
There was high tension near Telangana BJP headquarters and the nearby Congress headquarters Gandhi Bhavan in Nampally area.
Large number of BJP workers had gathered at the party office to participate in the protest against the Congress party. They marched towards Gandhi Bhavan and damaged flexis of the Congress party.
Police detained Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and other leaders and shifted him to Goshamahal Police Station.
Later, Congress and NSUI workers marched towards the BJP office to stage a protest.
The Congress workers led by MLC Balmori Venkat tried to lay siege to the BJP office. They raised slogans against Prime Minister Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The BJP workers also gathered in large numbers, leading to a clash.
Workers of both the parties attacked each other with sticks and stones even as police intervened to detain protestors.
The protest and counter protest and clash led to a massive traffic jam in Nampally, Moazzam Jahi Market and the adjoining busy areas.
Meanwhile, attempt by Congress workers to stage protest at the office of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay led to a clash between the cadres of the two parties in Karimnagar town.
Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the clashing groups.
BJP workers alleged that they were attacked by Congress activists with sticks. The saffron party workers also retaliated.
–IANS
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