Warangal: Telangana state BJP president G Kishan Reddy, along with scores of party workers, was briefly arrested for allegedly defying police orders by organising a foot march (padyatra) near Eturu village in the district on Thursday, police said.

The BJP leaders had taken out the 'padyatra' against the TRS government's decision to redesign some irrigation projects, especially Kanthanapally project which is aimed at augmenting Devadula lift irrigation system besides irrigating more land in Warangal and other districts.

Earlier in the day, around 2,000 party workers, including senior leaders, had gathered at Kanthanapally and set out on a 30-km walk. However, they were stopped by police near Eturu village where Reddy and others were arrested. The BJP was not granted permission to carry out the 'padyatra' as the agency area is known for active naxal movements and police arrested them for security reasons, said Superintendent of Police Rajamahendra Naik.

A tense situation prevailed after Reddy's arrest as BJP workers tried to prevent police from taking him away from the spot to Eturnagaram police station, from where he was later released.

Party leaders like G Premender Reddy, M Dharma Rao, Ram Chandra Reddy, Y Laxminarayana, P Venkateshwarlu and others took part in the programme. Later, addressing workers, Reddy accused the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led government of plotting against the padyatra.

This government has been neglecting irrigation projects since beginning. Now, they are planning to totally stall the Kanthanapally project. The government has not completed even a single project in the state.

They have not even sent a detailed project report (DPR) to Centre for even a single project. We demand justice for all tribals who are losing land due to the project, he said.

PTI