Telangana Congress Working President Revanth Reddy Detained Before KCR Rally; Is He a Terrorist, Asks Party

Hyderabad: Telangana Congress working president Revanth Reddy has been taken into preventive custody for his alleged threat to disrupt Chief Minister and TRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao’s election rally in Kodangal constituency’s Kosgi.

Revanth, the Congress candidate for Kodangal constituency, had called a protest rally and a bandh against Rao's scheduled meeting at Kosigi in the assembly segment on Tuesday evening.

"He (Revanth) has been taken into preventive custody, in view of apprehension of disturbance of public order and breach of security," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender told PTI. "He will be released (later) during the day," the official said.

Revanth's wife, Geeta accused the police of breaking open the doors of their house and forcibly taking away her husband to an "unknown location".

Many of his followers were also taken into custody from different locations.

On Saturday night, police had carried out raids at the Congress leader's residences following which he had given a protest call.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kodangal town to prevent any untoward incidents in view of KCR's election rally.

Earlier, some TRS leaders had lodged a complaint with Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar, alleging that Revanth was threatening to disturb Rao's campaign, following which instructions were issued to the police to ensure smooth conduct of the meeting.

In September, the income tax department had conducted searches at the residences of Revanth Reddy.

Lashing out at the KCR government over, the Congress termed Reddy’s detention a “murder of democracy”.

“I was informed about the detention by Reddy's wife. The police forced themselves in. They broke open the door. The TRS can’t use police as a political tool. This is not the way to deal with a political opponent,” said Congress leader and Karnataka minister DK Shivkumar.

Party leader Manish Tewari demanded that the Election Commission “dismiss those responsible”.

“KCR is misusing the police. The manner in which police entered his (Reddy’s) bedroom has never happened in India. Reddy is not an ordinary man. He is a Brahmos missile who is going to finish TRS,” said Congress leader GN Reddy.

Telangana Congress Chief Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned the police action and alleged that the election officials and police were behaving in a "partial manner". He also sought to know about the status of the complaint made to the Election Commission against TRS candidate of Kondal segment, Narender Reddy with regard to alleged recovery of cash from him last week.

In his reaction, Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who had recently joined Congress from TRS, termed the preventive arrest as "murder of democracy," adding it exposes the panic in TRS ahead of the December 7 Assembly polls.

"People will not tolerate such autocratic behaviour and will give a fitting reply by voting against the ruling party," Reddy said.

Elections to the 119-member Telangana Assembly are scheduled for December 7 and the counting of votes will be held on December 11.