Chakali SC Sadhana Samithi demands arrest of ex-MLA Podem Veeraiah

Political tensions in Bhadrachalam have turned caste-sensitive after Chakali SC Sadhana Samithi demanded the arrest of former MLA Podem Veeraiah for allegedly assaulting party worker Rayala Sreenu and making casteist remarks. Protests have been threatened if action is not taken

Kothagudem: An alleged assault on a Congress party worker in Bhadrachalam, amid reported political differences between sitting MLA Dr Tellam Venkat Rao and former MLA Podem Veeraiah, has taken a casteist turn.

Leaders of the Chakali (washerman) SC Sadhana Samithi have demanded the immediate arrest of Veeraiah for allegedly assaulting party worker Rayala Sreenu, who also serves as the samithi’s state campaign secretary.

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The samithi members, led by state president Chakali Srilakshmi, staged a protest rally in Bhadrachalam on Saturday and submitted a memorandum to Bhadrachalam ASP Vikrant Singh Kumar, seeking strict action against Veeraiah and his supporters.

Speaking to the media, Srilakshmi condemned the “inhuman attack” on Sreenu and said the incident had hurt the self-respect of the community. She alleged that Veeraiah, instead of acting responsibly as a former legislator, personally attacked Sreenu, hurled casteist abuses, and made derogatory remarks.

Sreenu reportedly suffered serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Srilakshmi said the ASP assured them that a statement would be recorded from Sreenu and a case registered. She warned of statewide protests if Veeraiah is excluded from the case.

Further, Srilakshmi demanded the Congress leadership to remove Veeraiah from his positions as Kothagudem DCC president and Telangana State Forest Development Corporation chairman.

The incident allegedly stemmed from a social media post by Sreenu criticizing Veeraiah after the latter’s remarks against MLA Venkat Rao in early July, which sparked clashes between the two groups.