BRS MLCs’ arrest triggers stir at KCR’s farmhouse

KTR taken into custody

Metro India News | Hyderabad

Scores of Congress workers and Dalit activists on Tuesday marched towards BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao’s farmhouse at Erravelli, demanding an apology over alleged derogatory remarks by a BRS MLC against Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.

Earlier in the day, the MLC concerned, Thatha Madhusudan, and another BRS MLC, N Naveen Kumar Reddy, were arrested in connection with a case registered over the remarks against the Speaker. Madhusudan denied making any derogatory remarks.

The alleged remarks, along with allegations of police high-handedness against BRS women MLAs, have rocked the Telangana Assembly for the past two days. Police made elaborate security arrangements at the farmhouse and stopped the protesters before they could reach it. Playing drums and raising slogans, the protesters contended that the remarks amounted to an insult to Dalits, since Prasad Kumar is a Dalit leader.

“Rao (KCR) must apologise to the Dalits of Telangana. Until then, we will not move from here,” a protesting leader said. As the protest unfolded, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao and another party MLA left the Assembly for the farmhouse. Police took Rama Rao and other BRS leaders into preventive custody to avoid any law and order issues, a police official informed.

After their vehicles were stopped, an agitated Rama Rao (KTR) alleged that police were escorting Congress workers to the farmhouse while preventing BRS leaders from reaching it. “Why are we being stopped? We don’t have trust in you. We have to protect our leader,” he told a police official.

Raising slogans, Rama Rao and other BRS leaders squatted on the road after being taken into custody and were subsequently shifted to police vehicles. “Chief Minister (A Revanth Reddy) and police are trying to attack our leader. We are not being allowed to go to our home. This is an attempt to kill our leader by Congress goondas. Reddy, who is handling the Home portfolio, should take responsibility for this,” Rama Rao said.