Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislators began a sit-in at the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly premises Saturday to protest what they call the anti-Telangana stance of the state government in denying them permission to take out a rally while allowing Seemandhra employees to hold a meeting.

TRS members E. Rajender, Harish Rao, P. Srinivasa Reddy and others reached the assembly on two-wheelers but were not allowed inside by police and security staff. They wanted to stage a sit-in at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

The leaders sat in protest in front of the building, half-a-km from the Lal Bahadur Stadium, where Seemandhra employees are holding a meeting to oppose the proposed bifurcation of the state.

With the TRS launching a flash protest, police further beefed up security around the assembly and the stadium to prevent any untoward incident.

Harish Rao alleged that though police said only employees would be allowed in the stadium, many anti-social elements joined the gathering.

He said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) mobilised large crowds. “If anything happens, the government will be responsible,” he said.