YSR Congress party honorary president Y S Vijayalakshmi’s proposed Chenetha dharna (sit-in for weavers) at Siricilla in Karimnagar on Monday has created tense situation in the Telangana region.

Unlike in the past, when the TRS workers and Telangana activists successfully prevented YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy from entering Mahbubabad in Warangal district to take out Odarpu Yatra on May 27, 2010, the police made unprecedented arrangements for his mother’s dharna at Siricilla. According to an estimate, more than 3,000 police from Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Medak districts were brought into Siricilla for the smooth conduct of the dharna, apart from thousands of police all along the route from Hyderabad to Siricilla to prevent the Telangana activists from obstructing her travel.

Almost all top leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi have been arrested ahead of Vijayamma’s dharna. Among those who were arrested included: Siricilla MLA K T Rama Rao, Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao, Korutla MLA P Vidyasagar Rao, Huzurabad MLA Etela Rajender and former MLA Capt V Lakshmikanth Rao. Many other leaders had to go underground fearing arrests.

Even in Hyderabad, the police lathicharged students and Telangana activists, besides storming into the Telangana Bhavan to attack the TRS workers. By and large, they ensured that Vijayamma holds her dharna without any hurdles.