The legislators had attempted to enter the assembly premises wearing black T-shirts bearing slogans against the Congress govt’s 1,000 days in office and its alleged unfulfilled promises, but police stopped them and took several leaders into custody. Hyderabad : Tension prevailed on the opening day of the assembly’s monsoon session on Monday after a scuffle broke out between police and BRS MLAs and MLCs.
Harish alleged that the govt was preventing the opposition from raising issues such as the six guarantees, 420 promises, pensions, fee reimbursement and the problems faced by farmers, teachers and govt employees. He claimed the Congress govt feared its performance over the past 1,000 days would be scrutinised and had therefore deployed police against BRS members.
The leaders said they would raise the matter with the assembly speaker. Warning of action against those responsible, he said the BRS would not remain silent over the treatment meted out to its leaders. Sabitha Indra Reddy alleged that police personnel pulled her hair during the confrontation, while Sunitha Laxma Reddy claimed that women police personnel pulled her saree, and she broke down while describing the incident. BRS leaders claimed that KTR suffered scratches on his hand and face, MLC Yadav Reddy injured his right toe, MLA Rajasekhar Reddy sustained a leg injury, and Sanjay hurt his hand. Condemning the police action, the BRS stated: “Police’s inhuman behaviour towards former minister and MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy at the assembly! The police dragged her away by her hair without considering that she is a woman MLA. Is this the respect the Congress govt gives to women? After police refused them entry in T-shirts, BRS leaders, including Harish Rao, Bandari Laxma Reddy and Sudhir Reddy, removed their shirts and attempted to enter the assembly wearing banians and trousers. Police took them into custody and shifted them to Telangana Bhavan. Speaking at Telangana Bhavan, Harish Rao questioned the govt’s actions and described the incident as a black day in Telangana’s history. “Is this a legislative assembly or a Kaurava Sabha? Will you pull the sarees of women MLAs? Will you use the police against elected representatives? Will you grab MLAs by the neck and throw them out? What kind of govt is this? Chief minister, are you running a police state?” he asked. He further claimed that police personnel pulled Sunitha’s saree, grabbed Sabitha by the throat and pushed Jagadish Reddy to the ground.