BRS condemns arrest of ex-MLA Balka Suman, slams Congress govt’s ‘undemocratic’ rule

The arrest of former BRS MLA Balka Suman in Hyderabad sparked sharp criticism from party leaders, who accused the Congress government of authoritarianism and political vendetta. Party leaders alleged the government was targeting opposition voices to divert attention from its failures.

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) former MLA Balka Suman’s arrest here on Saturday was condemned by the party leaders. They slammed the Congress government for its undemocratic rule.

Cases have been booked against the former MLA at Nampally police station for his controversial remarks recently. After learning that the former MLA was present at Telangana Bhavan, a heavy police force was deployed there.

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A tense atmosphere prevailed at the Telangana Bhavan after the party workers prevented the police from entering the office. However, the police arrested the former MLA amidst slogans from the BRS party workers.

Former Minister V Srinivas Goud slammed the Congress government for its political vendetta against opposition leaders. It has now become a regular practice for the Congress government to arrest BRS leaders and social media warriors for questioning its failures, he charged in a statement.

The BRS strongly condemns Balka Suman’s arrest. This was a vindictive act. Congress MLAs have been speaking in a far more offensive manner, and yet the State government has failed to rein them in, the former Minister said.

“The Congress government is imposing one set of rules for its leaders and workers and a different set for BRS leaders,” Srinivas Goud charged.

BRS MLC Deshapathi Srinivas lashed out severely at the repressive attitude being adopted by the Congress government. The Revanth Reddy government is resorting to filing illegal cases and engaging in political harassment with an intention to stifle the voices of BRS leaders, who question the government’s anti-people policies, he said.

Asserting that an illegal case was filed against Balka Suman, the BRS MLC questioned the State government’s double standards.

In the past, when Revanth Reddy had remarked that Pragathi Bhavan should be blown up with bombs, it was defended as freedom of expression. But, Balka Suman’s comments regarding public issues were suddenly deemed illegal, Srinivas stressed.

Former Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy said the autocratic stance adopted by the Congress government in the State was becoming a threat to democracy.

Filing false cases against opposition leaders, who strive to bring the people’s issues, especially the plight of farmers, to the government’s attention, is a despicable act, he maintained.

Targeting Balka Suman for highlighting the farmers’ problems was clear evidence of the Congress government’s intolerant attitude. To cover up its failures, the Congress government was resorting to these diversionary politics, the former Minister added.