Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Feb 22: N Ramchander Rao, president of the Telangana BJP, was placed under house arrest late on Saturday, just hours before his scheduled visit to Kamareddy district on Sunday, February 22.
Confirming the development, Rao said, “Police have placed me under house arrest tonight.”
Tension has gripped Kamareddy following an attack on the camp office of BJP MLA Katipalli Venkata Ramana Reddy. BJP leaders alleged that Congress workers were behind the incident and termed it serious and violent.
Rao was scheduled to visit Banswada to meet party workers and others who were reportedly injured in recent stone-pelting incidents. Violence erupted in Kamareddy town on February 20 and 21 after a dispute over land belonging to a Government Degree College, leading to clashes between BJP and Congress supporters.
Katipalli Venkata Ramana Reddy accused senior Congress leader Shabbir Ali of playing a role in the alleged illegal handling or sale of the land. Congress leaders have not publicly responded to the allegations.
During protests on Saturday, a vehicle belonging to a Congress leader was overturned. Stone-pelting during the unrest left several party workers and police personnel injured.
The Telangana BJP strongly opposed Rao’s house arrest and condemned the detention of BJP youth wing leaders who had planned to protest against alleged misbehaviour by Youth Congress workers during the India AI Global Summit in New Delhi.
Rao accused the Congress-led state government of failing to protect citizens and questioned whether it was standing with the people. He said preventing him from meeting victims of violence sent a wrong message about the government’s intentions.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the state government, calling its approach “dictatorial” and accusing it of attempting to hide its political shortcomings.
Earlier this week, Rao expressed satisfaction over the BJP’s performance in the recent municipal elections, stating that the party achieved a major milestone by winning both the mayor and deputy mayor posts in the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation for the first time.
BJP leader Kolagani Srinivas was elected Mayor of Karimnagar. Senior party leaders, including Bandi Sanjay Kumar, were present at the municipal office during the announcement of the results.
Elections were held on February 11 in seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities across Telangana, covering hundreds of wards. While the BJP celebrated key victories, the Congress party also put up a strong performance. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) finished second in several areas.