Padi Kaushik Reddy denies charges, accuses govt of political vendetta

BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy denied allegations linked to the Veenavanka Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara incident and accused the Congress government of political vendetta. He demanded release of CCTV footage and called for action against senior police officers

Hyderabad: Padi Kaushik Reddy, BRS MLA, dismissed allegations against him in connection with the Veenavanka Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara incident, accusing the Congress government of misusing the police to target Opposition leaders with political motives. He denied accusations that he made remarks against Muslims or alleged religious conversions by the Karimnagar Commissioner of Police.

“If it is proven that I made such statements or that I went there with 50 people, I will resign as MLA and quit politics,” he challenged, demanding that CCTV footage of the Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara celebrations at Veenavanka be made public. He said he was being targeted at the behest of Congress leaders and that he had already complained of protocol violations by the police to the Assembly Speaker.

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Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Kaushik Reddy said Veenavanka was his native village and that land for the Sammakka-Sarakka Gaddelu was donated by his family. He had personally spent Rs 30 lakh to develop the site, he said, asking why he was stopped while proceeding to the Jatara from his Huzurabad camp office. His parents were placed under house arrest, while the police even pulled away his minor daughter before reaching the Gaddelu during the celebrations, he said, adding that the case was being handed over to the CID with a script and that the police were misleading the investigating agency.

Demanding the suspension of the Karimnagar CP, Huzurabad ACP and Jammikunta CI, he called for a judicial inquiry into the lathi-charge on devotees at the Jatara.

Former Minister and Karimnagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar accused the government of filing false cases against BRS leaders and said the CID probe must be transparent. He urged the DGP to ensure an impartial investigation and avoid acting under political pressure.