Hyderabad: Telangana Congress leaders led by TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud staged a protest outside the South Central Railway (SCR) general manager’s office at Rail Nilayam on Wednesday after railway authorities reportedly declined their request for special trains to transport party cadres to a Nov 1 rally in Delhi.
The protest turned tense, with police detaining Mahesh Goud, minister Ponnam Prabhakar and several other leaders and shifting them to Monda Market police station.
Goud asserted that Congress would participate in the Nov 1 rally despite the reported refusal to provide special trains.
Called by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi under the slogan “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao”, the rally will protest alleged irregularities in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Goud said Congress MPs Anil Kumar Yadav and Mallu Ravi had formally requested special trains from the railway general manager. The Congress will find alternative ways to reach Delhi,” Goud said.
Mahesh Goud alleged that the denial was politically motivated and intended to prevent Congress workers from Telangana and other southern states from attending INDIA alliance rally at Ramlila Maidan. However, after keeping them waiting for six days, authorities informed them at the last minute that the trains could not be provided, he alleged. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot stop us from reaching Delhi. We will ensure that our voice of protest is heard in Delhi. Telangana Congress vice-president Kota Neelima, who was also detained, alleged that the decision was politically motivated and accused Modi govt of fearing Congress campaign. The leaders raised slogans against Centre and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah of attempting to obstruct their participation in the rally.