RS Praveen Kumar questions selective security cover, vows legal action

BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar questioned the Congress government's decision to withdraw security cover for Opposition leaders, alleging political bias in the Security Review Committee's exercise. He demanded that the SRC report be made public and warned of legal action.

Hyderabad: BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar questioned the Congress government’s decision to withdraw security cover for Opposition leaders under the guise of a Security Review Committee (SRC), while providing security cover to select Congress leaders without giving clarity on criteria. He demanded that the State government release the SRC report and clarify on criteria for security cover.

“The government must explain why security is being withdrawn for the BRS leaders, while it was being provided to non-consequential people. The BRS will challenge the exercise legally, if there is no response,” he asserted.

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Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, Praveen Kumar termed the SRC flawed and demanded that it be scrapped. He also sought the release of the committee’s report, alleging that the review lacked transparency. “Even if Revanth Reddy becomes a former Chief Minister, his security will not be reduced. The same yardstick should apply to everyone,” he said.

The BRS leader blamed the Congress government for subjecting former Narsampet MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy to prolonged stress, leading to his hospitalisation. He alleged that Sudarshan Reddy, who had security cover for nearly 25 years due to threat perception, was among those whose security personnel were withdrawn following the review. He said the former MLA had approached the court and secured relief in the matter, but the State government was yet to restore his security and renew his gun license.

“We thank the government for providing a green channel for shifting Sudarshan Reddy from Warangal to Hyderabad. However, the government must explain why his security cover has not been restored despite the High Court orders,” he asked.

Praveen Kumar stated that Sudarshan Reddy exposed irregularities, including an alleged Rs 1,100 crore civil supplies scam, bunker beds scam, and other issues after the Congress came to power, following which he faced pressure from the ruling party. He accused the government of targeting the former MLA and demanded a probe into a conspiracy involving certain individuals and a construction firm.

Questioning the criteria adopted in the security review, the former IPS officer alleged that security had been withdrawn from several BRS leaders including himself, while being retained or provided to others.

He sought an explanation for the differential treatment and maintained that the exercise was politically motivated.

He said the BRS would also pursue legal remedies against the security review process. He also questioned the government’s justification for providing bulletproof vehicles to the Ministers, while claiming Telangana no longer faced a significant extremist threat.

“My security has been withdrawn. In a notice served to me, the DGP said my bulletproof vehicle was being removed and security was being reduced as there is no extremist threat in Telangana. Similar reasons were given to Peddi Sudarshan Reddy. In such condition, why the government is providing security cover to the Chief Minister’s brothers, former MLA Mynampalli Hanumantha Rao, former Ministers K Jana Reddy and A Indrakaran Reddy, former MLA Sampath Kumar, or Congress leader Sricharan Reddy,” he questioned.