SURYAPET : The ongoing turf war between TJAC chairman M Kodandaram and the TRS intensified with the former being prevented from visiting the Khammam market yard on Friday and arrested by the Khammam police.
Earlier in the day, ruling party leaders had also tried to stop Kodandaram from visiting the Suryapet market yard and interacting with farmers.
Kodandaram was on his way to the Khammam market yard which had been vandalised earlier in the day by chilli farmers in protest against lack of remunerative price for their produce.
As Kodandaram reached Palair, a team of policemen, led by Khammam Rural DSP A Suresh Kumar, stopped his convoy and asked him to go back saying that the situation at the market was tense. The TJAC leaders, however, said that they were visiting various market yards in the state and interacting with farmers to know their problems.
The DSP claimed that he had orders from his seniors not to allow the TJAC chief into Khammam. But, as the determined Kodandaram and TJAC members tried to go ahead, they were arrested and taken to Suryapet.
Earlier in the day, tension prevailed at the Suryapet market yard when Kodandaram reached there to interact with farmers. On coming to know about his visit, TRS activists tried to stop him from entering the market and shouted ‘Kodandaram, go back’.
“The TRS government is leaving no stone unturned for the welfare of farmers. You are provoking farmers with unnecessary statements,” they alleged.
The TJAC leaders, however, tried to force their way inside and it led to a jostling between the two groups. Police intervened and asked Kodandaram to leave the place as his visit might create trouble.
The TJAC leaders entered into an argument with police and said that it was the TRS activists who were creating trouble by obstructing them. Police dispersed the TRS activists from the place.
Kodandaram told mediapersons later that the state government had failed to provide the minimum support price to farmers. “Most of the markets are not providing MSP to farmers. Some markets are not purchasing paddy and other commodities,” he alleged.