Vijayasanthi demands apology from AP govt for her arrest

"Am I a terrorist? I am a woman and also an MP. Why should they arrest me on the road?  Police did not come to arrest me when I was at home? The Chief Minister and Home Minister are silent on the issue. I wanted an apology from the Government," she told reporters here. She said she will raise the issue in Parliament and also bring it to the notice of the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker and other top leaders.

Asked about the content of the reply to the notice issued by the Election Commission for making the controversial remarks, she said what she spoke at the meeting was only a slogan in support of Telangana and is widely used by the Telangana protagonists. She claimed there was no clarity on who ordered her arrest for her controversial remark at the TRS office here last week.

Vijayasanthi was speaking after a meeting with State Chief Electoral officer (CEO) I V Subba Rao during which she explained her position to him. Talking to reporters later, Subba Rao said he is waiting for the response from the Election Commission over Vijayasanthi's reply to the notice served on her.

Vijayashanti, a popular south Indian actress, had allegedly asked the Telangana supporters to "chop down the foes of Telangana", as they came in the way of formation of the separate state. The EC had served notice on her for the controversial remarks as the model code of conduct is in force for the byelections to 12 assembly seats in Telangana region on July 27.

Meanwhile, Rao said five nominations have been filed on Monday thus taking the total number of nominations for the bypolls to 14. He said the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to be used in the elections would be checked on Tuesday and July 7 in the presence of representatives of political parties to ensure transparency in the conduct of polls.

Referring to a complaint made by Congress leader that some Telangana supporters were intimidating Congress activists, the CEO said the EC would do everything to ensure free and fair polling. Byelection to the 12 Assembly seats have been necessitated as sitting MLAs had quit their posts in support of separate Telangana.