Congress workers attack Harish Rao, BRS workers injured in Khammam

The incident occurred when Harish Rao along with former ministers P Sabitha Indra Reddy, Puvvada Ajay Kumar, ex-MP Nama Nageswara Rao and others visited Bokkalagadda and Venkatesh Nagar in Khammam city to distribute essential commodities to families affected by the recent floods.

Khammam: Tension prevailed here on Tuesday as a large group of Congress workers attacked the convoy of former minister T Harish Rao.

The incident occurred when Harish Rao along with former ministers P Sabitha Indra Reddy, G Jagadish Reddy, Puvvada Ajay Kumar, MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, former MP Nama Nageswara Rao and others visited several residential areas to distribute essential commodities to flood-affected families. Some of the Congress workers entered into heated arguments with BRS workers against the visit of BRS leaders at the Manchikanti Nagar area.

The clash turned violent as Congress workers started attacking the BRS workers. The Congress supporters also began pelting stones at the car in which Harish Rao and others were travelling. The windshield of the car was damaged while a BRS worker Santhosh Reddy of Siddipet suffered a fracture on his leg. Another elderly man suffered a head injury.

Ajay Kumar’s car was also damaged while his gunman was injured in the stone pelting. Nearly 15 persons took part in the attack and only one Inspector from the Three-Town police station was on security duty, BRS leaders said.

Speaking to the media later, Harish Rao condemned the attack and sought to know whether Congress’ Praja Palana meant attacking Opposition leaders. BRS leaders would not fear such foolish acts as they had a history of fighting against those who were mightier than Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. Jagadish Reddy said the attack was planned and that the attackers targeted Harish Rao.

Strict action should be taken against the attackers. Congress party stooped down so low that its workers were attacking former ministers and MLAs who wanted to help flood-hit families. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, the local MLA, should respond to the incident as the person who led the attack was his follower. The attack shows cowardice of the Congress leadership, which was guilty of failing to extend immediate support to flood affected families, he added.

Referring to the loss suffered by the public, Harish Rao demanded Rs.25 lakh to the kin of those who lost their lives in the floods. When in opposition, Revanth Reddy and Seethakka had made the same demand, he recalled. Every affected family suffered a loss of Rs.2 lakh to Rs.5 lakh and offering Rs 10,000 as relief was nothing but pittance.

The government mechanism and three Ministers in the district – Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Nageswara Rao – had failed to take measures to shift residents in flood-prone areas to relief centres, he said, also asking the State government to take an all-party delegation to New Delhi seeking the Centre’s support to the State.

The public in Khammam and Mahabubabad district suffered due to the inefficiency of the State and Central governments, he said.

Later in the day, Harish Rao and others called on Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt and lodged a complaint seeking action against those who attacked them.