Warrant against N Chandrababu Naidu for Babli stir 8 years ago

HYDERABAD: In a shot in the arm for Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Telangana, a political demonstration by then united Andhra Pradesh opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu against the construction of Babli barrage in Maharashtra in 2010 is set to plough back political capital with a court in Dharmabad issuing a non-bailable warrant against him and other TDP leaders. Naidu has been asked to appear in court on September 21.


Condemning the arrest warrant, TDP leaders staged protests in Hyderabad and in AP on Friday. While condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the warrant being issued, the TDP aims to portraying their leader as a champion of Telangana.

Issued by N R Gajbhiye, first class judicial magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district of Maharashtra under Section 70 CrPC, the warrant directed Dharmabad police to produce Chandrababu Naidu and 15 other TDP leaders before the court.

Naidu, AP irrigation minister D Uma Maheshwar Rao and TDP leaders have been charged with various offences, including assault and use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons, insult intended to provoke breach of peace and criminal intimidation. The warrant was issued on July 5, 2018, directing the accused to be present in court on August 16. The date was later changed to September 21.

In July 2010, Naidu led a team of 75 TDP leaders to Maharashtra to protest against the Babli barrage. Naidu’s said Maharashtra constructed four projects on Godavari near Babli Barrage in violation of water-sharing agreement, leaving the Telangana dry. While proceeding to Babli, Naidu and his men were detained at Dharmabad and told to return to Hyderabad. However, they staged a dharna leading to their arrest and custody at ITI in Dharmabad for two days, before being sent back to Hyderabad in a special aircraft.

Party sources said, the arrest warrant will be exploited by them two-fold. In AP, it will be used to whip up sentiments against Modi and BJP, while in Telangana, Naidu will be projected as a champion of the region, they said.

When Naidu staged anti-Babli protests, the Telangana agitation was raging, but the TRS was silent neither backing nor opposing Naidu. TDP now aims to highlight TRS silence in 2010.

It’s likely Naidu will drive in a convoy to Dharmabad from Hyderabad and court arrest on September 21. The NBW will also give greater leverage to TDP while bargaining for seats with Congress. Telangana TDP president L Ramana: “We see a conspiracy to defame Naidu and also TDP ahead of early polls in Telangana. We suspect Narendra Modi-led NDA at the Centre is behind the move. We submitted a memorandum to Telangana CS SK Joshi urging him to take up the issue with Maharashtra government and ensure that cases against Naidu and other TDP leaders are withdrawn.”