Unidentified persons damaged the life-size statue of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister NT Rama Rao at Jawahar Nagar on the outskirts of Hyderabad late on Thursday night, triggering widespread protests by the Telugu Desam Party cadre in the state.

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who was on his Vastunna Meekosam foot march in Guntur district, strongly condemned the vandalism and demanded that the culprits be brought to book immediately.

In a statement, the former chief minister expressed anguish over the spate of incidents in recent days in which statues of legends like BR Ambedkar, Potti Sriramulu and NT Rama Rao were damaged in different parts of the state.

"Destruction of statues of the legends in akin to destroying the nation's history. Had the state government acted tough when such incidents were first reported, they would not have recurred," Chandrababu said.

Meanwhile, scores of TDP workers visited Jawahar Nagar and staged a protest.

Rajya Sabha member T Devender Goud also visited the spot and strongly condemned the vandals' act.