Telangana police placed state BJP chief N Ramchandra Rao under house arrest late on Saturday. In a call to local media, Rao confirmed the information saying, “Police have placed me under house arrest tonight.”
The move came just hours before his scheduled visit to Kamareddy on Sunday.
Rao was reportedly placed under house arrest as a preventative measure after tensions escalated in the town.
Earlier, Rao had told the media that he was planning to go to Kamareddy in Banswada to meet the injured in a stone pelting incident. He had also alleged that about 100 BJP workers were arrested during a bandh called by Hindu organisations.
Rao alleged that the Congress-led government was preventing him from meeting the victims. “The Anti-Hindu, Muslim League Maoist Congress has arrested me and are taking me to Bollarum PS for standing up for the Hindus of Banswada and for our karyakartas in Kamareddy,” he wrote on X.
“Let it be clear, Congress is the New Muslim League; it has reduced itself to lower and lower levels of appeasement. By its actions, it seems determined to outdo even the worst chapters of divisive politics in our history. If Congress believes that confining me to my home will silence me or allow it to escape accountability, it is gravely mistaken. I will continue to stand firmly with our people – no matter the pressure,” he said.
In Banswada, a youth objected to the playing of a devotional song in a supermarket, and the employee of the supermarket later assaulted the youth. Police personnel deployed to the areas were injured after the two sides engaged in stone pelting.
Another clash in the town was reportedly triggered by a dispute over land belonging to the Government Degree College.
BJP MLA Katipallu Venkata Ramana Reddy alleged that Congress leaders were attempting to illegally sell the land and targeted Government advisor and former minister Shabbir Ali
On Saturday, a vehicle belonging to a congress leader was overturned, and stones were allegedly thrown, resulting in injuries to several party workers and police personnel.
Rao accused the Congress of implementing Sharia law and neglecting citizens. Rao argued that being prevented from meeting victims of violence is a message that the government will not allow the opposition to stand with citizens.
Union minister Kishan Reddy also condemned the arrest of the BJP chief, saying that the government was taking steps to gain favour against MLA Venkata Ramana Reddy.
Rao has stated that BJP leaders and cadres were determined to visit Kamareddy and Banswada, where there was a religious dispute and stated that, despite all obstacles, the party leaders would go.