Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and several party workers were detained by Hyderabad Police on Tuesday while proceeding towards Gandhi Bhavan to stage a protest against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demonstration near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi.
The BJP said the rally was organised in response to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests in Delhi over the NEET issue, during which Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders staged a demonstration in the high-security zone near the Prime Minister’s residence on July 21.
Speaking to media, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao said: “People who support China and Pakistan, those demanding the restoration of Article 370, and organisations such as Jamaat-e-Islami that raise anti-national slogans are extending their support to Rahul Gandhi in these protests. It is extremely unfortunate that the Telangana Chief Minister is also backing the drama being staged by these anti-national forces.”
Rao was later taken to Goshamahal Police Station, while the detentions triggered protests by BJP workers, who raised slogans against the police and accused the Congress government in Telangana of suppressing democratic protests.
BJP state unit leaders strongly condemned the arrest of the party president and others demanding their immediate release.
BJP state chief said Congress has set a very dangerous precedent by staging dharna outside PM’s residence yesterday, apparently with the intent of creating dangerous scene witnessed in our neighbouring countries. This act is deeply condemnable and every Indian is pained the way the Congress is attempting to creatae anarchy, he said.
BJP National Vice President and MP D.K. Aruna said “We strongly condemn the illegal arrest of BJP Telangana State President Ramchander Rao along with BJP cadres, who were carrying out a peaceful protest rally against Rahul Gandhi’s inappropriate behaviour forgetting his position as the Leader of the Opposition.”
She expressed outrage, stating that the Congress government is resorting to devious politics by using the police force to suppress the voice of the Telangana BJP. The illegal arrest of Rao is proof of the authoritarian attitude of the Congress party, she alleged.
Even though the NDA government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre, clearly stated that it is ready for a debate in Parliament on the NEET issue, Congress is stooping low purely for its political survival, she said adding that the Congress should stop these dramas immediately and cooperate to ensure the smooth conduct of the Parliament sessions.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar condemned the police action and demanded immediate and unconditional release of state party president.
Stating that the people are laughing at the conduct of the Congress party. Union minister challenged Congress leaders to come prepared for a debate in Parliament if they have the courage as we are ready for debate on NEET issue in parliament.
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, while condemning the arrest of BJP leaders in Hyderabad, said,”Even though the government has come forward stating that it is ready for a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the NEET question paper, the Congress party is avoiding the debate and is instead indulging in politics and misleading the people. It is well known that those responsible for the NEET question paper leak have already been produced before the court. I would like to assure you that the Central Government will take steps to ensure that those guilty in the NEET question paper leak case are duly punished.”
BJP MP Eatala Rajender said when the parliament session is underway, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are severely mocking the democratic system by conducting protests on the streets instead of discussing public issues in the House.
He said as the Leader of the Opposition, one should act as the voice of the people on the floor of Parliament. Instead of bringing issues to the attention of the House and securing solutions, it is deeply regrettable that Rahul Gandhi has abandoned his responsibility and resorted to sitting on the roads in protest.
Creating obstructions to prevent the House from functioning and wasting Parliament’s time on one hand, while staging protests in front of the Prime Minister’s residence on the other, is clear proof of Congress’s stooping political standards. Rahul and Priyanka are resorting to such actions with the malicious intent of slinging mud at the central government, he said and suggested Congress party to stop such dramas and cooperate with the government for the smooth functioning of parliament in the public interest.
In a separate statement BJP MP from Adilabad Godam Nagesh said the protests being conducted by the Congress party across the country are not for resolving public issues which are merely dramas staged to cover up their own political downfall.
Rahul Gandhi, having completely failed to act responsibly as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, abandoned the House to create a ruckus on the streets a clear proof of his immaturity, he said.
Strongly condemning the arrest of state party president Ramchander Rao, party state chief official spokesperson and Media In-charge N V Subhash said “democracy murdered under the demonic rule of Congress party.”
He condemned the illegal arrest of our BJP Telangana State President along with party cadres by the police while they were protesting peacefully against the irresponsible behavior of top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
In Telangana, the Congress government is using the police like their personal army to suppress the voice of the opposition. We will not be intimidated if they attempt to scare BJP leaders who question them by trampling upon fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, he said.
The NDA government led by PM Narendra Modi at the Centre has clearly stated that it is always ready for a debate in Parliament on the NEET issue. If Congress leaders truly have the courage, they should stop playing dramas on the streets and come for a debate on the floor of Parliament, Subhash challenged.
Condemning the arrest of state party president along with BJP cadres, party MLA Palvai Harish Babu termed it as Illegal arrests and inappropriate behavior of the police.
The Congress government in Telangana is using the police force to stifle the voices of BJP leaders who are questioning democratically, thereby trampling upon constitutional rights. Attempting to suppress the fundamental right to protest is proof of the authoritarian attitude of the Congress party, he alleged.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Congress, led by TPCC president and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud, organised a “Chalo Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan)” protest demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET question paper leak. Acting on the AICC’s call, Congress leaders and workers marched towards Raj Bhavan, where police detained Mahesh Kumar Goud and several other party leaders after they attempted to stage a demonstration against the Centre
