Hyderabad: Tension continued to prevail during BJP national president JP Nadda's Hyderabad visit on Tuesday.
Nadda, whose rally was restricted from taking place by the Hyderabad Police as soon as he landed earlier on Tuesday, ran into further problems in Secunderabad as he paid his respects to the Gandhi status wearing black masks as a symbol of protest against the administration's decision to arrest BJP leader Bandi Sanjay.
Both BJP cadres and police officials were present at the spot in large numbers.
Alongside Nadda, other BJP leaders such as Kishan Reddy, K Laxman, Raja Singh, Etela Rajender and Raghunandan Rao too wore black masks.
Union Minister Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development in the North Eastern Region, announced the completion of the rally after the BJP President paid his tributes.
K Lakshman, meanwhile, said, "Let us fight in a democratic manner. Everyone should leave here following the rules of COVID. We will continue the protests for 14 days. We fight against family rule in Telangana."
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The BJP president received a grand welcome from party members as soon as he landed in the Shamshabad airport on Tuesday.
Nadda also stated that police officials had approached him about the situation surrounding the rally.
"Joint Commissioner of Police Karthikeya met me at airport. COVID rules are in force in Telangana, and no permission has been granted for the rally," Nadda said earlier on Tuesday, explaining the situation.
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"Telangana Police told me the candle rally was not allowed in Secunderabad due to Covid rules. I am also saying to the police I'll follow all the rules. Police can give notices to me if I break COVID rules," he further added.
He also said no one would be able to deny him his democratic rights. Nadda said the rally will take place peacefully, and that he would be following rules. The police gave the notice to Nadda directly upon his arrival in the airport, citing COVID 19 measures currently in force.
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"We did not give permission for the BJP candlelight rally. News going on that the rally was allowed is false," Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anand clarified later on Tuesday.
The BJP chief's original plan was to hold a candlelight rally from Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Ranigunj to Paradise X Roads in Secunderabad in the evening.
Kishan Reddy, K. Laxman as well as BJP MLAs Raja Singh, Etela Rajender and Raghunandan Rao were also supposed to be joining him on this journey.
