Watch: Sabitha Indra Reddy pushed out of ration card distribution event in protocol violation at Balapur

A protocol row at a ration card event in Balapur led to a clash between BRS and Congress leaders after MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy was denied a place on the dais. She alleged humiliation and warned the Congress against politicising official platforms

Hyderabad: The distribution of ration cards led to a clash between the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS at Balapur in Maheshwaram constituency on Tuesday. Former Minister and local MLA P Sabitha Indra Reddy was insulted at the event by denying her a place on the dais in violation of protocol.

The event, attended by Minister D Sridhar Babu, witnessed a serious protocol violation as defeated Congress candidate K Laxma Reddy occupied the stage, bypassing the sitting MLA. When Sabitha Indra Reddy objected to it and demanded for adhering to protocol, Congress workers tried to heckle and force her out of the venue. As seen in videos, even the police tried to prevent her from talking on the dais.

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Despite her position as a woman legislator, she pointed out that there was no adequate police protection, nor were women officers deployed. Sabitha Indra Reddy, along with her supporters, staged a protest at the venue, stating that the Congress was politicising a government scheme and using official platforms as party stages.

“Is this an official programme or a Congress party meeting held at Gandhi Bhavan?” she asked, questioning how the government could exclude the local elected representative from an official event.

She walked out of the programme, citing humiliation and stating she did so to avoid disruption for beneficiaries. “Despite the public mandate, I was pushed aside. They even tried to attack journalists covering my protest,” she added. Furious over the lack of protocol and safety, she warned the Congress not to invite opposition MLAs and insult them, if they did not wish to provide them a place on the dais.

Raising strong objection to the Congress attack, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said it was appalling that Congress workers attempted to charge at her, even as the police stood as mute spectators. Instead of providing her protection, the police chose to berate her, he said.

“This incident is yet another ‘shining’ example of the law and order situation in Telangana. Sabitha Akka is the first female Home Minister for a State in the country. Yet, this is how she gets treated under the Congress government,” he remarked.

He demanded that the DGP take immediate action on the officer responsible and ensure that he apologises to her immediately. He also called for police training sessions on respecting elected representatives and to remind them that their role is to uphold the law and not act as political party workers.

“BRS will come back to power in three years. I hope you all remember that because we will not forget,” he affirmed.