Hyderabad:
Security guards forced Chandrababu Naidu to leave Dharmabad in Maharashtra for a jail in Aurangabad. Naidu was transported in a private bus accompanied by four Maharashtra
police vans.
Naidu and several other leaders from his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have been staying at a technical college in Dharmabad since they were arrested last week by the Maharashtra government for forcing their way across the border.
Some TDP members were lathi-charged as they tried to prevent the police from moving Naidu.
Naidu and 74 of his men insist that they must be allowed to inspect the Babhali Dam on the River Godavari - a source of much friction between Andhra and neighbouring Maharashtra. (
Read: At disputed Babhali Dam, fragile peace holds)
Naidu alleges that Maharashtra is grabbing more than its fair share of water, and that this will adversely effect the farmers in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region. Not entirely coincidentally, Naidu's protest - which began with a bus yatra to Maharashtra- comes days before Telangana votes for 12 assembly seats.
(Read: After bus yatra, Chandrababu is arrested)On Monday, Naidu refused bail, stating, "We are honourable citizens. We are Telugu people who have strong self-respect. We were deceived by Maharashtra Police and illegally detained by them, that too in our territory in total violation of Constitution. ..we shall lay down our lives, if required, to protect the interests of our state but we shall never seek bail."
(Read: Chandrababu Naidu refuses bail)In Aurangabad, Naidu will be kept at the Harsul jail. 10 police inspectors, 26 police Sub-Inspectors and 60 policemen are on duty there.