Harish Rao seeks Centre, Governor intervention in Telangana

BRS leader T. Harish Rao sought President’s Rule in Telangana, citing deteriorating law and order and accusing the Revanth Reddy government of suppressing the Opposition. He also raised alleged attacks on BRS legislators, unfulfilled promises and pending issues concerning farmers, students and employees

Hyderabad: BRS Legislature Party deputy floor leader T. Harish Rao demanded the intervention of the Centre and the Governor in Telangana, citing deteriorating law and order, and sought the imposition of President’s Rule. He alleged that Chief Minister and Home Minister A. Revanth Reddy had pushed the State into a police regime, resorting to diversionary politics to prevent discussion of the government’s failures in the Assembly.

“The State administration has gone off the rails and law and order has gone up in flames,” he said, urging the Governor and the Centre to intervene and impose President’s Rule in Telangana.

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Speaking at Jawaharnagar police station, where BRS workers staged a protest following the arrest of party leaders on Tuesday, Harish Rao termed the alleged attempt to attack former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s Erravelli residence a perverse act. He demanded that Revanth Reddy tender an unconditional apology for allegedly instigating Congress cadre to carry out the attack.

He said BRS leaders and workers were arrested while heading to safeguard Chandrashekhar Rao, while Congress cadre allegedly heading towards his residence to attack him were provided police escort.

The BRSLP deputy leader questioned Congress Lok Sabha leader Rahul Gandhi’s silence over the developments in Telangana. “Rahul Gandhi, why are you not speaking? When law and order is taken into Congress leaders’ hands and Congress leaders behave like goons, why are you not concerned?” he asked, questioning whether Rahul Gandhi could not see the alleged violation of the Constitution in Telangana.

Harish Rao accused the government of deliberately avoiding Assembly discussions for fear of its failures being exposed. He cited the pending six guarantees, pensions, Rythu Bharosa, fee reimbursement, jobs, PRC and DA, besides issues concerning farmers, students and employees. He accused the government of turning its job calendar into a jobless calendar and said people were suffering due to a lack of water, power and urea.

He alleged that BRS women legislators were manhandled during the Assembly confrontation, including having their sarees pulled and being choked, and questioned why cases were registered against the women legislators instead of those responsible for the alleged assault. He also questioned the Speaker’s handling of the issue and alleged that BRS members were denied an opportunity to raise public issues.

Referring to remarks made by Shadnagar MLA Veerlapalli Shankar about Chandrashekhar Rao, Harish Rao demanded immediate action against him and sought his expulsion from the Assembly. He said K.T. Rama Rao, Yadav Reddy, Marri Rajasekhar Reddy, Jagadish Reddy, Sanjay and he himself sustained injuries, but police refused to register their complaints.

He warned that the arbitrary use of official power and numerical strength would have consequences, asserting that the BRS would continue to fight in the people’s interest and hold the government accountable.