Congress government using police to crush democracy, says Harish Rao

BRS leader Harish Rao accused the Congress government of misusing the police to intimidate opposition workers and influence municipal elections. He demanded action against selective policing and warned of protests if Rythu Bandhu payments are delayed

Siddipet: Former Minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader Harish Rao on Saturday came down heavily on the Congress government for what he described as blatant misuse of police machinery to intimidate opposition workers and manipulate the municipal elections.

He was speaking after meeting 13 BRS workers, who are in remand at the Sangareddy district jail here. Dubbing the cases false and politically motivated, Harish Rao charged that the police had become partisan and were acting at the behest of the ruling party. The Congress party, unable to defeat BRS democratically, was resorting to intimidating politics, illegal arrests and fabricated cases to suppress opposition voices, he said, citing the movement of a Congress MLA through Medak municipality wards at midnight after the campaign deadline and calling it a clear violation of election rules. “Why did the police fail to act despite the Model Code of Conduct being in force?” he asked, expressing outrage over incidents of intimidation and violence, including attacks on women councillors and members of SC and ST communities, and the filing of SC/ST Atrocities Act cases against BRS workers in a retaliatory manner.

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“How are serious charges like attempt to murder booked without medical reports?” he asked, accusing the police of shielding ruling party leaders while targeting BRS activists. Even the vehicles involved in violations were not seized and FIRs were not registered despite video evidence being submitted. “DGP Shivadhar Reddy should respond on these instances of selective policing,” he said, also pointing out that BJP leaders, who abused or manhandled police personnel, were not arrested, while BRS workers were being booked and jailed for merely questioning illegal actions.

Citing the incidents in Kaithanpally, Amangal and Jangaon, the former Minister alleged that councillors were intimidated and women from Dalit communities were attacked in full view of officials. “Yet, no action is taken against the perpetrators,” Harish Rao said, adding that the municipal election outcomes proved that despite intimidation, people had reposed faith in the BRS, which secured nearly 800 councillor seats and around 20 chairperson posts. The few positions secured by Congress, he said, were achieved only through the misuse of administrative and police power.

Harish Rao also demanded the immediate release of Rythu Bandhu as the Model Code of Conduct was lifted.

“If the government fails to deposit Rythu Bandhu, BRS will launch statewide protests and lay siege to the offices of the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister,” Harish Rao warned, also cautioning police officers at all levels that acting on oral instructions from political leaders and filing illegal cases would make them personally accountable in the future.

“Officers, who violate the law and function as agents of the ruling party, will have to face consequences. No one will be able to shield them,” he warned.