Hyderabad, Dec 08: The BJP in Andhra Pradesh yesterday accused the TDP government in the state of "failing" to keep a vigil on elements trying to disturb communal peace and called a bandh today in Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district to protest the communal violence in the city which left five dead and 20 injured Saturday night.
Prof V Seshagiri, BJP vice-president, told reporters here that time and again the government had been informed about the activities of some fundamental organisations in creating communal disturbances in the city as well as in other parts of the state.

State BJP general secretary Dr K Laxman said the intelligence network failed to alert the possible eruption of communal violence in view of the 'black day' observed by some outfits.

Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister for Urban Development who also addressed the press along with other office bearers, demanded an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh to the kith and kin of the deceased and Rs one lakh to injured. He also demanded arrest of those responsible for violence irrespective of their status.

Accusing Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and Majlis Bachao Tehrik (MBT) of being responsible for the incidents, Dattatreya alleged that in view of the coming assembly elections, these parties were bent upon creating a rift among the communities to garner votes.

Bureau Report