Hyderabad: Over 500 BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) activists, including top leaders, were today (July 28, 2004) taken into custody in Hyderabad for allegedly violating conditions prescribed for procession, during a rally to protest proposed reservation for Muslims by the Andhra Pradesh Government.

Those arrested included former Union Ministers Bandaru Dattatreya and Ch Vidyasagar Rao, State unit party President N Indrasen Reddy and party's former MLAs, police said.

Earlier, BJP state unit took out a rally protesting Government's proposal for five per cent reservation for Muslims in Government jobs and education in the State.

The rally began from Baghalingampally and reached Indira Park passing through Narayanguda, Chikkadpally, RTC crossroad and Ashok Nagar.

Police had given permission for the rally on the condition that they agitators should not deviate from the permitted route, there should be no provocative slogan or speeches besides no traffic problem should be created.