Arrest of RB opponents reminiscent of Emergency: TDP

Stating that the functioning of the Kiran Kumar Reddy government was reminiscent of the Emergency period during former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s rule, senior Telugu Desam Party leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao on Thursday alleged that the police are resorting to illegal arrests and foisting false cases against Telangana people in the name of Racha Banda.

Talking to media persons at NTR Trust Bhavan, the TDP leader said that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy regime now resembles Emergency Rule of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Mr Dayakar Rao said the people in the Telangana region were apprehensive about attending the Racha Banda programme, ironically launched to bring the administration at their doorsteps, as police are resorting to illegal detention and foisting false cases against the people.

The TDP leaders’ statement assumes importance in the wake of precautionary house arrest of TRS MLA Vijaya Bhaskar by police in Warangal district to ensure that there are no disruptions to the Chief Minister’s Racha Banda in the district.

The TDP leader demanded that the government stop arresting people and immediately release those arrested.

Mr Dayakar Rao also urged the state government to stop Racha Banda in Telangana region as it was not welcome by the people of the region. He pointed out that the programme was deemed by the people to be going against their wishes of a separate state.

He also pinned the blame for the law and order problem in the Telangana region on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao.

The senior TDP leader also criticized KCR and said that the TRS leader has no moral right to talk on Telangana state issue since he had done nothing to push for the creation of a separate state. Mr Dayakar Rao demanded KCR’s resignation the MP seat in support of Telangana agitation.

He challenged KCR to contest independently in Telangana without using Telangana issue and win in the elections.