MP's antics leave AP govt red-faced

Telangana protagonists see the MP’s antics as grave provocation and believe they are part of the efforts of the coastal Andhra-Rayalaseema forces to pressurise the prime minister, who is expected to make an announcement on the issue on Tuesday. Rajagopal’s dramatic admission to NIMS comes in the backdrop of the state government’s refusal to his request for treatment in the hospital. 

In a quick response, chief minister K Rosaiah announced the suspension of Vijayawada police commissioner Rajendranath Reddy and five other police officials for “negligence and dereliction of duty”.

As pro-Telangana activists surrounded NIMS demanding that Rajagopal go back, hundreds of policemen including the paramilitary Rapid Action Force were deployed to maintain peace. The police took into custody several protesters, who raised slogans against Rajagopal and demanded that he be sent back to Vijayawada.
The siege of the hospital by the protesters resulted in a massive traffic jam on the crucial Punjagutta road that lasted for several hours as the police blocked all entrances to the area.

Rajagopal was admitted to the government hospital in Vijayawada by the police on Saturday.

According to sources here, Rajagopal escaped from the hospital around 10 pm on Sunday and before the large number of policemen realised what was happening, he got into an SUV and was driven away.

Even as the police hunted for him for the next 15 hours, he reportedly travelled to Hyderabad  in an RTC bus, took rest before taking an autorickshaw to the rear entrance of NIMS. When TV cameramen spotted him, he sprinted into the safety of the building.
Later, the chief minister called an emergency cabinet meeting, where it was decided to suspend six police officials and also allow the MP to be treated at NIMS.