BRS Leaders Arrested At Gandhi Hospital

Tension prevailed at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad today as police arrested members of a BRS fact-finding committee, including BRS MLAs.

The BRS had appointed a committee, headed by former Deputy Chief Minister Dr T Rajaiah, to study the deteriorating conditions of government hospitals in the State, including Gandhi Hospital.

Beginning Monday, a three-member committee of expert doctors began their field inspections, with Gandhi Hospital slated for evaluation. However, State government authorities blocked the committee's visit, leading to a scuffle between police and BRS leaders.

MLAs Dr Sanjay Kumar and Maganti Gopinath, and former MLA Metuku Anand, along with Rajaiah, were arrested by police. Additionally, Janagama BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy was also detained after heavy police presence prevented him from leaving his residence in Jubilee Hills.

The committee members asked why the government was afraid of their visit to Gandhi Hospital, and said that their intent was merely to provide expert recommendations for improving services, not to engage in politics.

"Is the State government trying to hide issues regarding maternal and child deaths that our party raised at Gandhi Hospital? Are they afraid that the failures of their administration will be exposed?" the MLAs asked.

BRS working president K T Rama Rao strongly condemned the arrest of BRS MLAs and senior leaders, who he said were only attempting to understand the problems faced by the public. Taking to X, he asked, "Are you going to be arrested if you visit hospitals? Why are you so afraid?" He demanded the immediate release of those detained and urged the government not to obstruct their access to hospitals.

He also said that party leaders, many of whom were doctors, would continue to observe conditions in government hospitals for the welfare of the people, with no political considerations. He added that even if the State government resorted to such "cowardly" acts to cover up its mistakes, he would remain committed to highlighting deficiencies in the public health system.