Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday kicked off its protest against the proposed 12 per cent reservation to the backward sections of Muslim minority with a march to the assembly, but alert police foiled the attempt.

Dozens of party workers and leaders including a few legislators were taken into custody when they tried to break the cordon and move towards the assembly building where the budget session was in progress.

One group shouting slogans against reservations to Muslims was taken into custody at Basheerbagh Cross Road, while another was stopped at Nampally near the BJP state office.

Tension prevailed when the BJP MLA NVS Prabhakar resisted arrest and the police forcibly lifted him into the van. “This is an unconstitutional proposal,” he said.

MLA Chintala Ramchandra Reddy, who was also taken into custody, said that if the government does not withdraw the proposal to grant 12 per cent quota to Muslims, his party will intensify its agitation. State BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao was also among those taken into custody.

The party also raised the issue in the assembly. Five Party MLAs including the floor leader G Kishan Reddy and the state party president K Lakshman sporting black bandannas disrupted the proceedings to oppose the proposed quota. When the pleas of the Speaker to restore order in the House failed, the five members were suspended for a week.

Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary Murlidhar Rao condemned the state government over the arrest of the BJP leaders and alleged that it was trying to stifle the voices of protest.

He told the media persons in New Delhi that the BJP was opposed to the religion-based reservation. “We are ready to fight it till the end,” he said. He warned the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao against vote bank politics.

Telangana Assembly Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary announced the suspension of the five BJP MLAs after they rushed into the well of the House shouting slogans and obstructing the proceedings.

After the BJP members were removed from the House, members of the main opposition Congress also walked out of the House protesting against the “undemocratic” action of suspending opposition members.

Talking to the media outside the assembly, K Lakshman said that the BJP would continue its opposition to the state government’s plans on reservation for Muslims.

“This is a ploy of the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to divert the attention of the people from the failures of his government. This is petty politics.” he said.

BJP floor leader in the state assembly, G Kishan Reddy, and former minister N Janardhan Reddy were among the leaders arrested by the police.