BRS, Congress clash over ‘White Challenge’ at LB Nagar crossroads

Tension erupted at LB Nagar in Hyderabad after a confrontation between BRS and Congress over a drug test challenge led to protests, sloganeering and a minor scuffle, prompting police to intervene and take leaders from both parties into custody

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at LB Nagar crossroads on Thursday after a face-off between the BRS and Congress over a “White Challenge” on alleged drug use led to protests and sloganeering. Police intervened and took leaders from both parties into custody.

The confrontation began after local Congress leaders challenged LB Nagar MLA D Sudheer Reddy and his supporters to undergo drug tests amid the ongoing political row over the drugs issue. Accepting the challenge, BRS leaders announced that the MLA and party cadre would come to the Dr B R Ambedkar statue at LB Nagar for tests. Accordingly, Sudheer Reddy and his supporters reached the venue on Thursday afternoon, expressing their readiness for drug tests. However, senior Congress leaders who were expected to attend did not turn up. A few local Congress leaders staged a protest at the crossroads, holding placards and raising slogans.

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When BRS leaders tried to move towards the protest site, police stopped them, leading to heated arguments. Leaders and cadre from both parties raised slogans against each other. A minor scuffle broke out before police dispersed the crowd and took several persons into preventive custody. BRS leaders alleged that police blocked their supporters while allowing the Congress workers to stage a sit-in.