Hyderabad, Aug 11 (IANS): Amid tight security, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi arrived here Sunday morning for a public meeting, the first after he became Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national campaign committee chairman.
Police have beefed up security in Hyderabad for the meeting, expected to attract over one lakh people. Youth will be the target audience for Modi at the meeting titled "Nava Bharat Yuva Bheri" (New India's Youth Conclave).
About 5,000 policemen have been deployed. There will be traffic restrictions from 2 p.m to 7 p.m. around Lal Bahadur (L.B.) Stadium, where Modi would be addressing the public from 3 p.m..
The BJP leader arrived by a special aircraft at Begumpet Airport shortly after 10 a.m. State BJP president G. Kishan Reddy and senior leaders Bandaru Dattatreya, Vidyasagar Rao and others welcomed him.
Modi drove to Park Hyatt Hotel, where he will be meeting industrialists and representatives from the information technology sector and the Telugu film industry.
After the meeting, the BJP leader will unveil a statue of Vallabhbhai Patel at the Keshav Memorial School. He will also address BJP office-bearers before leaving Hyderabad at 9 p.m..
Police have refused permission to BJP leaders who wanted to take out processions to L.B. Stadium. Security arrangements are in place to prevent protests by groups opposed to Modi's visit.
BJP leaders said the stadium has a capacity of 75,000 people, but over 90,000 have registered online. Twelve LED screens would be installed outside the stadium for those who are unable to go inside.
The BJP is collecting Rs.5 from each participant. The party has defended its decision, saying the money would go towards relief in the flood-hit Uttarakhand.