BRS leaders Sabitha Indra Reddy, Karthik Reddy placed under house arrest over Musi hearing

BRS leaders P Sabitha Indra Reddy and Karthik Reddy were placed under house arrest ahead of a public hearing on the Musi Riverfront project. KT Rama Rao condemned the action, alleging democratic rights were being curbed and demanding farmers’ compensation.

Hyderabad: BRS deputy floor leader P Sabitha Indra Reddy and Rajendranagar constituency in-charge Karthik Reddy were placed under house arrest on Wednesday to prevent them from attending the public hearing on the Musi Riverfront development project, triggering strong protests from the BRS leadership.

Police personnel from Madhuranagar police station reportedly deployed outside Sabitha Indra Reddy’s residence in Srinagar Colony from 4 am.

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Questioning the move, Sabitha Indra Reddy said the BRS had not called for any protest and she had no connection with the public hearing. She demanded to know why she had been placed under house arrest when she was not planning to participate in any demonstration, accusing the government of imposing an Emergency-like situation in the State and curbing democratic rights.

Reacting to the house arrests, BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned the house arrests and demanded the unconditional release of both leaders. He termed the house arrests as undemocratic, reminding people of the Emergency-era. He said the restrictions were intended to silence the BRS and prevent it from standing with residents of the Musi river basin who faced displacement due to the proposed project.

Accusing the Chief Minister of prioritising the Musi project over farmers’ distress, the BRS working president said the government was planning to divert Rs 1.5 lakh crore under the guise of beautification while lakhs of farmers were struggling with drought and crop losses. He demanded compensation of at least Rs 50,000 per acre for farmers whose crops had dried up, alleging that the government had failed to support affected families.

He also accused Revanth Reddy of attempting to demolish homes of lakhs of families under the Musi project to promote real estate interests. He asserted that the BRS would continue its agitation until the alleged plan was scrapped.