Congress BJP cadres engage in violent clashes over NEET protests

Telangana witnessed intense political activity on Wednesday as the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a protest over the alleged NEET paper leak triggered demonstrations across the State, leading to clashes between Congress and BJP workers at several places.

The protests turned violent in parts of Hyderabad, Warangal and Karimnagar, where workers of the Congress and the BJP confronted each other during rallies and demonstrations. Police intervened at several locations to prevent the situation from escalating and dispersed rival groups.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy led a separate protest in his Assembly constituency of Kodangal, condemning Rahul Gandhi’s detention and accusing the Centre of attempting to suppress democratic protests.

He alleged that BJP leaders had amassed huge wealth through series of paper leaks, and asked why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi not dismissing Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. “If no action is taken it would be construed as Mr. Modi is supporting Mr. Pradhan,” he said.

The Chief Minister alleged that students protesting against the paper leak were subjected to a ‘brutal’ police crackdown and claimed that several were injured and some were unaccounted for after the protests. Referring to the alleged assault on Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Reddy said the Gandhi family was known for sacrifices made for the nation.

TPCC protests

The Congress cadre led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud held a protest at Lok Bhavan in Hyderabad against the ‘assault’ on Mr. Rahul Gandhi. Senior leaders, including Ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Damodar Rajanarsimha, Mohd Azharuddin, Vivek Venkatswamy; MLAs Danam Nagender and Naveen Yadav; senior leaders Shabbir Ali, Balmoor Venkat and Rohin Reddy joined the protest along with large number of cadres.

Mr. Mahesh Goud accused the Centre of running a police raj. “Why is Dharmendra Pradhan being spared by PM Modi?” he asked. The police detained the leaders and the cadre at Lok Bhavan and shifted them to different police stations.

Bhatti protests

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka led the protests in Hanamkonda, where Minister Konda Surekha, MLA Nayini Rajender Reddy also joined. Mr. Vikramarka said it had become a culture for the BJP to suppress the opposition voices whenever they stood up for people’s rights.

TPCC working president and three-time MLA T. Jagga Reddy warned that if the BJP wants to attack Congress offices, the Congress can also hit back. He cautioned BJP chief N. Ramchander Rao to be responsible rather than being provocative. “The BJP should first apologise to the students,” he said.

Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar led a dharna in Husnabad, Karimnagar district and said the party would intensify its campaign in support of students and youth across the country. He called upon party workers and the public to unite against the BJP government, asserting that the movement would continue until ‘justice is delivered to students and accountability is fixed’.