BRS intensifies fight for Secunderabad Municipal Corporation; Congress flexes police muscle

Tension gripped Secunderabad Railway Station as police prevented a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) peace rally demanding a separate Secunderabad Municipal Corporation. BRS leaders accused the Congress government of suppressing the demand by revoking permission late Friday night and detaining party workers.

Hyderabad: The demand for a separate Secunderabad Municipal Corporation intensified on Saturday with tension prevailing at the Secunderabad Railway Station premises after the City police prevented a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) peace rally.

BRS leaders said the police had initially accorded permission but cancelled it late on Friday night. Undeterred by the State government’s attempt to suppress the growing demand for the corporation, they said they would approach the court and seek permission for the rally, which was planned under the aegis of the Lashkar Sadhana Samithi from the Secunderabad station to the Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road.

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However, heavy police force was deployed in and around the station, with a majority of commercial establishments, including the popular Alpha hotel and others asked to down shutters. Armed with lathis, police personnel ensured that there was no traffic disruption in the area.

The police obstructed BRS leaders and cadres from heading towards the station and arrested them midway. Several BRS workers were bundled into police vehicles. Amid slogans against the Congress government, BRS leaders and supporters argued with the police over being prevented from reaching the station.

Coming down heavily on the Congress government for obstructing the BRS rally, Sanathnagar MLA and former Minister T Srinivas Yadav said the government was trying to scuttle the long-pending demand of Secunderabad residents.

He said the police had initially granted permission for a peaceful rally from Secunderabad Railway Station to the Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road. The rally route map was also examined by the police on Friday. However, around 10.40 pm, a message was sent revoking the permission, he said, while speaking to the media here on Saturday.

“We had planned to hold a peaceful rally with black flags and scarves under the slogan ‘Secunderabad Bachao’. If permission for the rally had been revoked yesterday or the day before, we would have gone to court,” Srinivas Yadav said, adding that several people were arrested.

He alleged that the Congress government was trying to erase Secunderabad’s history and meddle with its identity. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was exploring plans related to the Malkajgiri, Hyderabad and Cyberabad corporations, he said.

“You may derive sadistic pleasure by temporarily obstructing a peace rally, but we will hold the rally. We will go to court and get permission to hold the rally legally,” Srinivas Yadav added.

Like those at Secunderabad railway station, many BRS cadres were stopped from stepping out of Telangana Bhavan and heading towards Secunderabad railway station. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V Madhusudhana Chary was stopped while proceeding to Secunderabad. Despite informing the police that he had to visit NIMS Hospital for treatment, permission was denied.

“This is a dictatorship. Can a person not visit a hospital for treatment, why are we being stopped?” Madhusudhana Chary asked. After a prolonged delay, the police allowed the BRS MLC to proceed in a separate vehicle. He was permitted to visit the hospital only under police escort.