Watch: BJP, Congress workers clash in Hyderabad

Former BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri’s remark against Priyanka Gandhi sparks row

Hyderabad: A tense situation prevailed in front of the BJP State office at Nampally after Congress and BJP workers clashed with each other on the issue of BJP former MP Ramesh Bidhuri’s sexist remark against Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Youth Congress functionaries surrounded the BJP office and pelted stones and eggs in protest against the comments made by Bidhuri on Priyanka Gandhi. The BJP workers retaliated and chased Congress workers with sticks. Police had a tough time handling the situation with Congress and BJP workers refusing to leave the spot. A BJP worker sustained a head injury in the incident while a large police convoy was deployed to disperse the workers of both parties. Both the party leaders accused each other of the incident. Congress leaders claimed that they were staging a protest peacefully and that the BJP workers provoked them to attack the BJP office. On the other hand BJP leaders claimed that they used force only after the Congress started stone pelting.

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Meanwhile, Union Coal Minister and BJP State president G Kishan Reddy condemned the attack on the BJP office and blamed the Congress for the incident. He accused the Youth Congress leaders of attacking the BJP office on the directions of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

The Union Minister condemned the incident, calling it an act of cowardice and emphasizing that the State government must bear responsibility for any future consequences of such attacks. He asserted, “Do not mistake our tolerance for weakness. We reject the politics of violence and will not tolerate attacks against us. If you disagree with someone’s remarks, protest peacefully—that is enough. Resorting to physical attacks, such as pelting stones and using sticks against the BJP office, is unacceptable.”

“Even after Ramesh Bidhuri apologized for his comments, is it justified to respond with such intolerance?” he asked.

The BJP State president demanded the City Police Commissioner to respond on the issue as the police personnel were mute spectators during the entire clash.

Strongly condemning the attack on the BJP office, union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay said BJP would not sit idly and would react strongly. Foundations of Congress offices, including Gandhi Bhavan won’t remain if BJP workers jump into action, he warned.

“What is the State government doing when the ruling party workers are taking the law into their hands and attacking with stones? Suitable legal action should be taken. The workers who committed the attack should be arrested immediately.”he demanded.

Later, Speaking to the media, ACP Vikram Singh said, “We are investigating the incident of attack on BJP office. We are examining the CCTV footage and will take action. We have deployed forces as per our regulations.”

Meanwhile, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud criticised Youth Congress leaders for attacking the BJP office and stressed that protests should be staged in a democratic manner. He also found fault with the BJP leaders and stated that their comments were highly condemnable.