File picture of protesters in Andhra Pradesh
Senior Congress MP from Telangana V Hanumantha Rao on Saturday came under attack by those opposing division of Andhra Pradesh at Tirupati, when he went to the Tirumala temple.
Police had to baton charge the protestors who attacked his car, damaging the windowpanes.
Tension prevailed at Alipiri when the Rajya Sabha member was stopped by protestors when he was returning after a 'darshan', police said.
Raising slogans of 'Jai Samaikya Andhra', they sat on the road to block his car. Some of the protestors pelted stones, damaging the windowpanes. Police had a tough time in controlling the mob. The MP managed to leave the place under tight security.
This is the first incident in which a politician from Telangana was attacked since July 30 decision of the Centre to carve out separate Telangana state.
Tirupati is the famous temple town in Chittoor district of Rayalaseema.
Seemandhra, as Rayalaseema and Andhra regions are collectively known, is witnessing protests, shutdown and mass strike to demand the centre to reverse its decision.
Meanwhile, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader Harish Rao has condemned the attack on Hanumantha Rao. He asked the Seemandhra protestors not to do anything which creates tension.
Harish Rao also demanded the Seemandhra employees to apologise for the attacks on Telangana employees in some parts of Seemandhra.
State minister S Sailajanath, who is opposed to division, has condemned the attack on Congress MP. Telugu Desam Party leader from Andhra, S Chandramohan Reddy, has also condemned the attack.