YSR Congress MLA RK Roja detained, not allowed to take part in women's conference

YSR Congress MLA RK Roja was detained at the Vijayawada airport on Saturday as she arrived from Hyderabad to take part in the ongoing National Women's Parliament (NWP) at Pavitra Sangamam here.

Roja was not allowed to attend the conclave though she was duly registered and invited, as police suspected she "might create trouble" at the venue. In fact, Roja is also a member of the NWP 'welcome and reception committee'. A delegation of YSRC leaders later met Director General of Police (in charge) N Sambasiva Rao, protesting against Roja's detention, but was told that there was "credible information" that the firebrand MLA was planning to stage a protest at the NWP venue.

"We have credible information that Roja is prepared to stage a protest at the venue. Since a number of national and international delegates are attending the prestigious event, it is the police's responsibility to ensure it is conducted smoothly. Hence, we detained her," the DGP told YSRC legislators Gouru Charita, G Eeswari and other leaders, who met him in Vijayawada.

Eeswari, however, blamed Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu for the detention. "Roja was detained only at the behest of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Is this democracy or dictatorship?," Eeswari said.

It all began in the morning when Roja arrived at the Vijayawada airport from Hyderabad when the police took her away to a room saying the Dalai Lama was about to arrive (to proceed to Hyderabad). After over an hour, they told the legislator that she would be dropped at her hotel in Vijayawada. "But they are taking me away from Vijayawada on the National Highway towards Ongole. Why should they invite me (to NWP) and then detain and take me away like this," Roja questioned in a video that was captured on her mobile phone and posted on Facebook.

The MLA was driven away to Medikonduru police station in Guntur district and later allowed to return to Hyderabad.