Hyderabad: Seeking to distance himself from the political fall-out of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi's arrest, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy today (Nov 13, 20040 said his Government has 'nothing to do' with the case.

"There is a case in Tamil Nadu (against Shankaracharya) and the police from that State had come and arrested him. My Government has nothing to do with this," Reddy told newsmen in Hyderabad as reports of protest demonstrations against the Pontiff's arrest poured in from across the State.

The agitators organised dharnas and rasta roko at several places in the State and demanded immediate release of Kanchi seer.

Tension prevailed in the State capital during a rally by Sangh Parivar activists and followers of Shankaracharya when some of the protestors made a vain attempt to surge towards the State Secretariat in violation of prohibitory orders.

The police used mild force to disperse the agitators who later resorted to stone pelting, damaging an RTC bus near Tank Bund area.

A delegation of five Peethadhipatis (heads of religious mutts) later met Chief Minister at Secretariat and lodged their protest against arrest of Jayendra Saraswati.

Wearing black badges, the activists of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and Bajrang Dal held up traffic in Cuddapah district and raised slogans against Tamil Nadu and AP Government.

The effigy of DMK supremo Karunanidhi was burnt by protestors in Vijayawada while VHP activists organised 'silent demonstration' in Vizianagaram town.