Hot T awaits walkers

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Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu is likely to get a hot reception when he enters Mahb-ubnagar district in Telan-gana region on October 22 during his marathon Vast-unna Mekosam padayatra.

The Telangana Joint Action Committee and TRS have threatened to block Mr Naidu’s padayatra demanding that he spell out his stance on separate statehood for the region, even as TD leaders are equally prepared for a showdown with them.

In view of open threats by TJAC, police has decided to tighten security arr-angements on the Kurn-ool-Mahbubnagar border, as well as for Mr Naidu when he enters Mahbub-nagar via Sunkesula Dam and Rajoli on October 22.

Mr Naidu, who set out on the mega 2,000 km walkat-hon from Hindupur in Anantapur district on October 2, entered the 19th day of his tour on Saturday having covered Anantapur and Kurnool districts in Rayalaseema.

He will enter Mahbubn-agar after spending another day in Kurnool.

Mr Naidu, 63, was visited by his wife Bhuvaneswari and son Lokesh last night in view of his failing health. He had complained about cramps and severe pain in his legs. The he mother-son duo offered prayers and performed special pujas for the TD chief’s health at the famed Alampur Jogulamba temple on Saturday morning.

“We prayed for my father’s good health,” Mr Lokesh said.

Mr Naidu’s entry into Mahbubnagar has been delayed by a day due to health problems. He was supposed to enter Mahbu-bnagar on October 21.

TD leader Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and doctors advised Mr Naidu to take a break in view of his frail health, but the latter reportedly spurned the suggestion. TD leaders also dismissed suggestions that Lokesh may take over the yatra.

Sources in the TD said that Mr Naidu was briefed about the impending threats from TJAC in Telangana and has decided to talk on Telangana when he enters the region. He is expected to throw the ball in the Centre’s court as he did in his recent letter.

“Naidu is responsible for the Centre going back on Telangana. TJAC is already bringing pressure on the ruling Congress. So far, about a 1,000 people have died for Telangana. The people want to know which side Naidu is on. Is he for Telangana or not,” TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram said.
He asked people to grill Mr Naidu when he enters Mahbubnagar.

Objecting to Prof Kodan-daram’s call, Telangana TD Forum convener E. Dayakar Rao appealed to the people not to stall Mr Naidu’s padayatra. “JAC should grill (TRS chief) K. Chandrasekhar Rao at his farmhouse on the delay on the Telangana issue and Nagam Janardhan Reddy for making a success of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s programme in Mahbubnagar along with TRS MLA, Jupally Krishna Rao,” he said.