Vizianagaram turns battleground

HYDERABAD:  Vizianagaram district collectorate is going to become a battle ground for the TDP and Congress in their fight against liquor syndicates on Monday. In view of TDP’s scheduled protest on Monday against liquor syndicates and the counter demonstrations planned by the ruling Congress in Vizianagaram district, district authorities have enforced prohibitory orders in the town citing law and order issues.As a precautionary measure, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC on Sunday and Monday in Vizianagaram district even as police refused permission to both Congress and TDP to organise rallies and dharnas and have stepped up security, officials said on Sunday.Despite being denied permission, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu  announced that he would go ahead with his plan and “take on” the state unit Congress president Botcha Satyanarayana in his hometown of Vizianagaram by staging a protest against benami liquor syndicates on Monday.Local Congress leaders too stated that they would stage a dharna at the same venue.Meanwhile, Vizianagaram district collector M Veerabrahmaiah and superintendent of police Karthikeya convened a meeting with leaders of both the parties on Sunday afternoon  which cut no ice with them.Meanwhile, TDP declared that it would go head with its plans to stage a dharna before the  collectorate. TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with party seniors at his residence on Sunday. Speaking to reporters later, TDP Rajya Sabha member T Devender Goud said that Naidu would take part in the dharna with or without police permission. Goud attributed motives to Vizianagaram SP for denying permission for their dharna. “I worked as Home Minister. Denying permission for dharna is anti-democratic. The SP  should have allowed dharnas of Congress and TDP on different dates,” Devender Goud said.Earlier, Botcha Satyanarayana told reporters that  since the police denied permission for dharnas, the TDP chief should not enter into the district. Stating that the TDP will not be cowed down by the threats, Naidu wondered whether Vizianagaram was like Pakistan and do they need a visa to visit the place. Objecting to Naidu’s Pak remarks, Botcha advised Naidu to hold his tongue.The PCC chief wanted to know why Naidu did not organise a dharna in Chittoor district, where a large number of TDP leaders were involved in liquor scam and why he was keen on coming to Vizianagaram only.