BRS workers push through police barricades as KTR heads to Kannepalli

Tension prevailed as BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao's convoy encountered multiple police barricades while heading to the Kannepalli pump house. BRS workers removed obstructions, allowing the convoy to proceed, while Rama Rao accused the Congress government of obstructing the visit.

Hyderabad/Warangal: Tension escalated on Sunday as BRS working president KT Rama Rao and other BRS leaders proceeding to the Kannepalli pump house repeatedly ran into police barricades, even as party cadres removed obstructions and ensured the convoy continued its journey.

Police initially stopped the convoy at Pemberthi in Jangaon district with heavy barricading and held the BRS leaders from proceeding further, notwithstanding heated arguments. However, BRS workers cleared the route, allowing Rama Rao and senior party leaders to proceed. A second blockade was erected at the Raghunathapalli toll plaza, where police parked lorries across the road to halt the convoy.

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Former Minister and Suryapet MLA G Jagadish Reddy, who had reached the spot earlier with a large group of farmers, engaged in a heated argument with police even as the BRS cadre rushed to the tollgate and lifted the gates, allowing the convoy to move forward.

The BRS leaders later reached Parkal, where Rama Rao garlanded the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar before proceeding towards Kannepalli. Police reportedly erected barricades at several locations en route, while BRS cadres mobilised in large numbers to prevent the convoy from being stopped.

Earlier, preventive arrests of BRS workers were carried out across Jangaon district, and additional police forces were deployed along the Hyderabad-Warangal National Highway.

Speaking to the media at Pembarthi, the BRS working president accused the Congress government of obstructing the visit to conceal its failure to utilise Godavari River waters. He alleged that nearly one lakh cusecs of water was being released downstream unnecessarily despite the looming threat of drought amid El Nino warnings.

Stating that water could be lifted from the Kannepalli pump house without relying on the Medigadda barrage, Rama Rao said the water level in the Godavari River which was at around 96 feet was sufficient for pumping operations. “If the Congress government is incapable of operating the Kaleshwaram project, hand it over to us. We will fill all major reservoirs within a week,” he asserted.

Questioning why the government was afraid of the visit, he said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was using the police to cover up delays in repairing the Medigadda barrage and pursuing a conspiracy to render the Kaleshwaram project redundant. He vowed that the BRS would reach Kannepalli under any circumstances and continue its campaign on irrigation and farmers’ issues.