BRS fact-finding committee members arrested at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad
They have been prevented from entering the Gandhi Hospital and arrested, before being shifted to the Narayanaguda police station.
Hyderabad: The police on Monday arrested members of the BRS fact-finding committee formed to investigate maternal and infant mortality at Gandhi Hospital and assess the condition of government healthcare across Telangana. Former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. T Rajaiah, MLA Dr. K Sanjay, and former MLA Dr. Metuku Anand were among those detained before being taken to the Narayanguda police station.
The arrests took place as the committee was on its way to Gandhi Hospital, with a heavy police presence deployed at the site. Despite attempts by police to block their movements, Sanjay and Anand, along with BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath, managed to reach Gandhi Hospital, where they were arrested. Similar actions were reported in Warangal, where BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy was also detained ahead of his planned visit to the local government hospital.
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The BRS committee members, all medical professionals, maintained that their visit was a non-political effort to assess public healthcare and offer recommendations. “Why is the government afraid of our visit? Are they trying to hide the maternal and infant deaths in Gandhi Hospital, or are they scared that their failures will be exposed?” they asked.
BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned the arrests, calling it an attack on transparency and accountability. “This must be a first – arresting members of a fact-finding committee. What exactly is this government scared of? If there is nothing to hide, let us investigate and improve public health,” he stated, adding that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s ego was damaging Telangana’s welfare.
Rama Rao challenged the Congress government to allow the committee to investigate, arguing that the findings would benefit the public. “But your ego, Mr. Cheap Minister, is single-handedly destroying Telangana. Stop playing with people’s lives,” (sic) he added, targeting the Chief Minister. Stating that truth could not be bulldozed or buried, he said notwithstanding the arrests, the BRS would not rest or stop until the reality was exposed.
Later, Dr. T Rajaiah held a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, where he demanded that the government declare a health emergency considering the rising maternal and infant mortality, and the surge in viral fevers. He lambasted Revanth Reddy and other Ministers for prioritising personal luxuries, while leaving the State’s healthcare system in disarray. He contrasted this with former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s tenure, during which, he said, Telangana had achieved major success in healthcare.
Former MLA Dr. Metuku Anand criticised the State government’s neglect of both education and healthcare. MLA Dr. Sanjay also highlighted the unchecked spread of viral fevers in the State, blaming the government’s focus on political games instead of public welfare. They vowed to continue their fight for better healthcare, despite the government’s attempts to suppress their efforts.
