Watch: BJP and Congress workers clash during rival protests in Hyderabad

Tension prevailed in Hyderabad after BJP and Congress workers clashed during rival protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and demonstrations in Delhi. Police intervened with a lathi charge, detained leaders from both parties and brought the situation under control.

Hyderabad: Tension gripped Hyderabad on Wednesday as BJP and Congress workers clashed, while holding rival protests, forcing police to intervene and detain leaders from both parties.

The Congress organised a “Chalo Lok Bhavan” rally from Gandhi Bhavan to protest the alleged NEET paper leak and the detention of Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders in New Delhi. TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud led the rally from Indira Gandhi statue at Necklace Road to Lok Bhavan in Somajiguda. Police stopped the rally near Lok Bhavan and detained Mahesh Kumar Goud, along with Ministers Damodara Raja Narasimha, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Mohd Azharuddin and several other Congress leaders.

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At the same time, the BJP leaders led by its State president N Ramchander Rao took out a counter-rally from its State headquarters to Gandhi Bhavan, condemning the Congress protest held outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in the national capital. As they attempted to lay siege to the Gandhi Bhavan, a group of Congress activists rushed out and both the groups raised slogans against each other, triggering heated arguments and a scuffle.

Some activists reportedly used sticks during the clash, while a few Congress workers climbed onto the police vehicles in protest. Police, who had deployed heavy security anticipating trouble, resorted to a lathi charge to disperse them.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy participated in a protest march from his residence to Ambedkar Chowrasta in Kodangal. After paying floral tributes to the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar, he condemned the Centre over the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and protesting students in Delhi.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Minister Konda Surekha and several legislators also staged a protest in Hanamkonda.

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