‘Democracy under attack’

BRS senior leader and former minister T. Harish Rao accused the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government of undermining democracy by allegedly using police machinery to capture municipal power through 'backdoor methods'. After meeting former MLA Balka Suman at Adilabad Central Jail, Harish Rao termed the arrests of BRS leaders politically motivated and criticised their transfer to a distant jail as an act of vendetta.

Harish Rao alleged that despite a BRS - CPI majority in Kaithanpally municipality, the chairman election process was disrupted and councillors — including Dalit, tribal and women representatives — were attacked in the presence of officials. He claimed that the police refused to register complaints against the Congress leaders while filing cases against BRS members. He also criticised police actions in several municipalities, accusing authorities of intimidation and partisan behaviour. Urging the Governor to intervene, he warned that mass protests could follow if democratic norms were violated. "If the law is made to serve the Congress party, the BRS will not remain silent and will continue its fight to protect democracy and the Constitution in Telangana", he warned.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s review meeting with the Telangana Cabinet in Delhi, Harish Rao questioned why Rahul Gandhi, who carries the Constitution book in public meetings, remains silent when democracy and the people’s mandate are being crushed in Telangana. He also questioned the silence of AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan.

He urged the Governor to immediately intervene in the Kaithanpally incident and take action against officials who acted unconstitutionally. He also demanded action against the election authorities who failed to protect the democratic process. Harish Rao warned that when people’s verdict is trampled, mass movements will follow. He cautioned the police officers not to function under political pressure for postings and favours, and to act within the law and constitutional limits.