BRS legislators prevented from entering Telangana Assembly, arrested for wearing black T-shirts in protest

The Telangana Assembly session began amid protests as BRS legislators wearing black T-shirts were stopped from entering the premises. Several MLAs, including K T Rama Rao, T Harish Rao, were arrested, while the Opposition accused police of high-handedness and demanded discussions on unfulfilled electoral promises

Hyderabad: The Telangana Assembly session began on a stormy note on Monday after BRS legislators were stopped from entering the premises for wearing black T-shirts as a mark of protest against the Congress government’s failure to fulfil electoral promises.

Tensions prevailed at the Assembly gate as the BRS members attempted to forcibly enter the premises. The BRS working presidnet K T Rama Rao, BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao and several other legislators were arrested and shifted to Telangana Bhavan.

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Wearing black T-shirts carrying the slogan, “Congress failed to deliver promises in 1000 Days”, BRS legislators were stopped from entering the Assembly premises. Police said they could not enter wearing T-shirts with slogans. The ensuing jostling led to heated arguments, with BRS working president KT Rama Rao, former Minister G Jagadish Reddy and others sustaining minor injuries.

Police also pushed away BRS women legislators who were standing aside. MLA V Sunitha Laxma Reddy, who was with P Sabitha Indra Reddy and Kova Lakshmi, suffered minor injuries after police allegedly trampled on her feet. BRS also alleged that police manhandled the staff of its legislators and attacked Rama Rao’s PRO Mahesh, causing him minor injuries.

Rama Rao questioned the differing treatment of black-shirt protests, asking how Congress leader Rahul Gandhi could wear black shirts as a democratic protest in Parliament while BRS legislators were prevented from doing so in Telangana.

After police refused to allow them inside, BRS legislators, including Harish Rao, removed their T-shirts and demanded entry to raise public issues. However, the police arrested them and shifted them to Telangana Bhavan.

BRS members who were wearing normal clothes, were allowed inside. However, BRSLP deputy leaders Talasani Srinivas Yadav, P Sabitha Indra Reddy, MLAs V Sunitha Laxma Reddy, Kova Lakshmi, and Madhavaram Krishna Rao staged a sit-in protest at the Assembly lobbies entrance against the police high-handedness towards their fellow BRS MLAs.

Earlier, BRS legislators paid tributes at the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial at Gun Park before proceeding to the Assembly.

Speaking at Gun Park, Rama Rao demanded that the session be extended to a month to enable a detailed discussion on issues concerning all sections, including government employees, Anganwadi workers and surveyors. He accused the ruling Congress of coming to power with 420 promises and failing to fulfil them even after 1,000 days despite promising implementation within 100 days.

He said as per directions of the party president and Opposition leader K Chandrashekhar Rao, the BRS members would question the government on electoral promises, GO 97 affecting polytechnic students, Rs 18,000 crore in pending fee reimbursement, farmers’ issues, Singareni workers’ concerns and problems faced by auto drivers.

Rama Rao said the party would raise the issue of lands being placed on the 22A prohibited list and alleged irregular land allocations to relatives of the Chief Minister and Ministers. He said the BRS would question the government on behalf of the people during the session.

Meanwhile, the BRS also moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on the Congress government’s 1,000-day rule and its alleged failure to implement electoral promises.