Hyderabad: A novel protest by the opposition against rising petrol and LPG prices has triggered a major row over the pollution of a lake in Hyderabad.
As the main opposition Congress party’s youth wing dumped a motorcycle and a gas cylinder in Hussain Sagar lake, a senior Telangana minister K Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) has asked the state director-general of police to take action against the violators.
KTR, who is also the working president of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), took to twitter to condemn the act of causing pollution of the water body. He termed it “an reprehensible behaviour”.
Increase in energy prices has become a major issue across India as the petrol price has crossed Rs100 a liter and cooking gas cylinder price was recently increased by Rs25, taking it to an all time high of about Rs1,000.
“Protest is an important part of democracy to attract the attention of Govts & people. But irresponsible behavior such as these, throwing bikes and cylinders into lakes is reprehensible”, he tweeted.
While Congress leaders had thrown a bike, activists of the National Federation of Indian Women had dumped a cylinder into the lake in a well-publicised protest event against the policies of the Central government.
KTR, minister for information and technology, asked the state home minister and the state police chief to issue instructions for stern action against the violators.
Responding quickly to the minister’s tweet, Hyderabad city police booked a case against the workers of Youth Congress and women’s organisation under various sections including dumping of hazardous material in to the lake.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Viswaprasad Perla said: “The protest was organised without permission from the police obstructing the traffic and creating nuisance. Case was booked at Gandhi Nagar police station under sections 277, 278, 341 and 290 of Indian Penal Code”, he said.
