Telangana BJP chief detained ahead of Nalgonda visit; party alleges rights curbs

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao was taken into custody on Tuesday while attempting to travel to Nalgonda district, a move the party has condemned as an assault on democratic rights.

Police arrived at Mr. Rao's residence in Tarnaka and prevented him from leaving, later escorting him to the Gandhinagar police station. The detention came as he planned to meet district BJP president N. Varshith Reddy, whose house was allegedly ransacked by Congress workers.

The incident triggered immediate protests from senior party figures, including national president Nitin Nabin, Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and other leaders. Police also detained BJP Legislature Party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy, MLC C. Anji Reddy, former mayor Banda Karthik Reddy, and general secretary T. Veerender Goud when they attempted to follow Mr. Rao to Nalgonda.

This is the second such restriction on Mr. Rao in under a week. He was previously stopped from visiting Ramanthapur to meet polytechnic students protesting a proposed merger of their institutions with the Skills University.

"Democracy is under threat in Telangana, but Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy cannot silence me. I fought against a dictator like former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Emergency," Mr. Rao said.

He asserted that the BJP would intensify its democratic agitation, demanding the government account for its nearly 1,000 days in office. Mr. Rao questioned how many industries had actually begun operations, how many Davos investment announcements had translated into real jobs, and why salaries and pensions were not being paid on time.

He also criticised the HYDRAA and HILT initiatives for creating fear among families, industries, and employees, and claimed the proposed CURE initiative had raised concerns about additional taxes. On land auctions, he asked how selling land at ₹250 crore an acre would help ordinary citizens facing rising household costs.

Earlier, Mr. Maheshwar Reddy released a "1,000 Days Chargesheet" against the Congress government, alleging "1,000 lies and 1,000 betrayals."