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.
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.
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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).
"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.