Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and several leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have been put under house arrest to prevent them from participating in a massive protest against the government-run by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Police banned large gatherings in Palnadu regionwhich is seen to be worst affected by violence fuelled by political rivalries.
The TDP had planned a protest against allegedintimidation by the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) as they alleged thateight TDP workers have been killed and several face threats from Reddy's partythat completed 100 days in power last week.
Naidu who will sit on a fast till 8 pm of Wednesdaysaid that it's a dark day for democracy.
However, some of the TDP leaders who are under house arrest ate Devineni Avinash, Kesineni Nani, and Bhooma Akhilapriya.
Both the former chief minister and his ruling rivalhad given a call for a march today to Atmakur, 240 km from Amaravati.
Meanwhile, Naidu's son Nara Lokesh was also stopped from participating in protests near his home in Undavalli. On being stopped, Lokesh argued with the police saying that there was no ban on the gathering of large groups in Vijayawada and surrounding areas and they should not stop him from protesting as this is their fundamental rights.
