Hyderabad, Telangana: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy strongly criticized the Congress-led Telangana government for detaining BJP workers ahead of a planned protest in Hyderabad, calling the move “undemocratic” and “unjustified.”
Speaking to reporters, Reddy said that the BJP had decided to organize a peaceful demonstration under the leadership of Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao to highlight civic and infrastructure issues faced by the people of Hyderabad. However, according to him, several party workers were allegedly placed under house arrest overnight and later taken to local police stations to prevent their participation in the protest.
“This was not an anti-national program. We were only raising public issues, from civic negligence to safety concerns, which affect every resident of the city,” Reddy said. He questioned the government’s decision to invoke provisions of the Prevention Act against party members and called it an attempt to suppress democratic voices.
The Union Minister emphasized that it is the duty of an opposition party to hold the ruling government accountable and to bring citizens’ concerns to the forefront. “Instead of listening to the people, the government is arresting those who question it. Is this the definition of democracy the Congress wants to set in Telangana?” he asked.
Party sources said the BJP had planned to raise issues such as poor drainage systems, road maintenance, waterlogging during monsoons, and safety lapses around open manholes, problems that have repeatedly affected Hyderabad residents.
Reddy reiterated that the BJP would continue its protests and outreach programs despite police action, stating that silencing dissent would only further alienate the people from the ruling dispensation.
