Harish Rao Raises Alarm Over Arrests, SC/ST Cases Against BRS Activists

Senior BRS leader and former minister Tanniru Harish Rao on Saturday accused the Congress government in Telangana of misusing the police machinery to suppress political opposition, after visiting BRS workers lodged in Sangareddy district jail following clashes linked to recent municipal elections . Speaking to reporters, he alleged the arrests were based on fabricated charges aimed at intimidating opposition cadres. He questioned the conduct of a Congress MLA during the Medak municipality polls, claiming the legislator moved through wards late at night after the campaign deadline, and asked why authorities failed to act over a possible election code violation.

Rao alleged tensions escalated after a late-night visit to a Muslim woman’s residence, where she was allegedly threatened and security personnel behaved aggressively. He said BRS workers who objected were later booked and jailed, and criticized the filing of cases under the SC/ST Act against activists belonging to Scheduled Caste communities, calling it politically motivated. He also questioned how police invoked attempt-to-murder charges without medical documentation and alleged that complaints filed by party workers including claims that a vehicle rammed supporters, petrol was poured on an auto-rickshaw, and a tipper lorry owned by a worker was burned were ignored. He urged DGP Shivadhar Reddy to clarify the police response and accused the force of acting in a partisan manner.

The controversy comes amid heightened political friction following the recent Telangana civic polls, which witnessed confrontations and allegations of intimidation in several urban local bodies. Harish Rao claimed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi secured around 800 councillor seats and about 20 municipal chairperson posts, reflecting continued grassroots support. He demanded the immediate release of Rythu Bandhu assistance to farmers, allegedly withheld citing the poll code, and warned of a statewide agitation if funds are not released. He added that the party would raise the issue of illegal cases and political intimidation in the upcoming Assembly session, underscoring the intensifying political contest shaping Telangana’s local governance landscape.