Telangana: Preventive detention of ex-sarpanches ahead of Revanth’s visits condemned

Telangana Sarpanches Association Joint Action Committee terms government’s actions as repressive, accuses administration of treating former elected representatives like criminals

Hyderabad: The Telangana Sarpanches Association Joint Action Committee (JAC) has strongly condemned the preventive arrests of former sarpanches ahead of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy‘s visits to various districts.

The association’s State president Survi Yadaiah Goud criticised the government’s actions, terming it as repressive governance and accusing the administration of treating former elected representatives like criminals.

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In a statement, Goud said the police had detained former sarpanches in Yadadri Bhongir district for inspection of the Musi river and also arrested former sarpanches in Warangal in the early hours of Tuesday, ahead of the Congress government’s one-year celebration event.

“Is this a people’s government or a regime of repression?” he questioned. “It is appalling that former sarpanches are being arrested in the dead of night as if they were extremists or rowdy-sheeters,” he said.

Goud demanded an immediate discussion on the grievances of sarpanches, particularly on the issue of pending bills. He criticised the government for failing to resolve these long-standing issues, calling the arrests a “foolish and cowardly act” meant to silence dissent rather than address legitimate concerns.