Telangana Police on Tuesday, September 22, detained a high-level BJP delegation led by State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao from proceeding to the Priyadarshini Jurala Project, taking the BJP leaders into custody at Jadcherla. The delegation was on its way to meet farmers, assess the water situation at the project and understand the problems being faced by farmers in the downstream command areas.
Police stopped the convoy carrying Ramchander Rao and other BJP leaders on the national highway and took them into custody. The action triggered a commotion as BJP workers objected to the detention and raised slogans against the Congress government in Telangana.
The BJP delegation had planned to visit Jurala amid growing protests by farmers from Jogulamba Gadwal, Wanaparthy and Mahbubnagar districts, who have been demanding the release of irrigation water to protect their standing paddy crops. Farmers have reportedly said that their crops, sown around three-and-a-half months ago, are withering and require at least another six weeks of water to survive.
The farmers’ agitation intensified on September 19 when frustrated farmers reportedly forced open the canal’s head regulator to release water. Officials subsequently shut the regulator, prompting further concern among farmers over the fate of their standing crops.
The BJP said its visit to Jurala was intended to meet the agitating farmers, assess their problems and press the government for the immediate release of irrigation water to the ayacut under the project.
A heavy police deployment has been maintained around the Jurala Dam, with barricades placed on major roads, including the Atmakur-Gadwal route. The security arrangements were aimed at preventing attempts to lay siege to the project amid the continuing farmers’ agitation.
Reacting to his detention, N. Ramchander Rao termed the arrest undemocratic and alleged that the Congress government was attempting to suppress the BJP’s voice by preventing its leaders from meeting the protesting farmers. He alleged that the government was using the police to arrest BJP leaders whenever the party took up public issues instead of addressing the concerns raised by people.
Speaking to the media, Ramchander Rao said the government was more focused on arresting BJP leaders than resolving public problems. He also criticised the Agriculture and Irrigation Ministers for remaining silent despite farmers facing difficulties.
ప్రజా సమస్యల పరిష్కారం కంటే మమ్మల్ని అరెస్టు చేయడంపైనే ప్రభుత్వం దృష్టి పెట్టింది, రైతులు ఇబ్బందులు పడుతున్నా వ్యవసాయ, సాగునీటి శాఖల మంత్రులు మాట్లాడకపోవడం దారుణం.
ప్రధాని @narendramodi గారి 'ఫసల్ బీమా యోజన' అమలు చేసి ఉంటే జూరాల రైతులకు నేడు ఈ నష్టం జరిగేది కాదు. మమ్మల్ని… pic.twitter.com/iod9rOO6j9
— BJP Telangana (@BJP4Telangana) September 22, 2026
Rao said the farmers of Jurala would not have suffered the present losses had Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana been implemented. He asserted that the farmers’ agitation would continue despite the arrests and assured farmers that the BJP would continue to stand with them and fight for their rights.
BJP Telangana statement on Ramchander Rao’s detention
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Mahbubnagar MP Dr D.K. Aruna strongly condemned Ramchander Rao’s arrest and the house arrest of other BJP leaders. They demanded the immediate release of irrigation water from the Jurala Project to the ayacut.
Bandi Sanjay questioned whether there was democratic rule in Telangana and termed the arrests a “wicked” act by the Congress government. He questioned why BJP leaders should be stopped from visiting farmers to understand their problems and said the government’s actions were reminiscent of the Emergency period.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s statement on the arrests
Bandi Sanjay demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ramchander Rao and the other detained leaders.
In a separate statement, Mahabubnagar MP Dr D.K. Aruna condemned the arrest of the BJP State president and the house arrest of other party leaders, alleging that the action was aimed at preventing the BJP’s visit to Jurala in support of farmers demanding immediate release of irrigation water to save their drying crops.
Condemn the arrest of BJP State President Shri @N_RamchanderRao garu en route to Jurala.
Every time BJP leaders step out to stand with them, Congress deploys police and makes arrests.
Why this fear of the BJP? Why deny farmers the right to be heard? https://t.co/ghp7rQV0wu
— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) September 22, 2026
Aruna said district-level BJP leaders, including Gadwal District BJP president Ramanjaneyulu, young BJP leader D.K. Snigdha Reddy, former Municipal Chairman Bandala Venkatramulu and Venkateshwar Reddy, among others, had also been placed under house arrest.
She said the BJP would continue its fight on behalf of farmers and demanded that the government immediately respond to the situation and release irrigation water, claiming that crops cultivated under the Jurala command area were wilting due to inadequate water supply.
“The Congress government lacks sincerity in protecting the farmers’ crops. Irrigation water must be released immediately from the Jurala Project to the ayacut (command area). House arresting leaders who are protesting peacefully instead of resolving farmers’ issues is a clear suppression of democratic rights,” Aruna alleged.
She further pointed to the water storage in the Jurala Project and alleged that farmers were nevertheless facing severe hardship because water was not being released to the command area, resulting in cultivated crops drying up and increasing distress among farmers.
Farmers in the Mahabubnagar ayacut (the command area that depends on the project) have been demanding water for standing paddy crops. The Congress government in Telanghas refused, saying inflows are low because of a weak monsoon/El Niño, silt has reduced the reservoir’s live storage, and remaining water must be reserved for drinking water. Officials have also advised farmers to switch to less water-intensive crops.
