BJP protest at Singareni office: BJLP leader Eleti Maheshwar Reddy arrested

Bharatiya Janata Legislature Party (BJLP) leader Eleti Maheshwar Reddy staged a protest outside the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) head office in Hyderabad on Wednesday, alleging that the state government was misusing Singareni funds. He criticised the government for allocating large sums of money for the upcoming Messi-Revanth Football event, claiming that money belonging to a public-sector company should not be diverted for such purposes.

A large number of BJP workers and leaders participated in the protest. Eleti argued that thousands of crores meant for employee welfare and infrastructure development were being spent on sports events, calling it “an undemocratic and irresponsible decision.” He demanded transparency and proper prioritisation in the utilisation of SCCL funds, reminding that Singareni is a public institution.

As tensions rose at the protest site, the police intervened. Stating that the protest was held without permission and was obstructing traffic, they detained Eleti Maheshwar Reddy and several BJP leaders, shifting them to the Begum Bazaar Police Station.

Their arrest sparked anger among BJP workers, who condemned the government's actions. They alleged that detaining leaders who were peacefully protesting to safeguard public money was proof of the government's “authoritarian mindset.”