BRS Protests Arrest Of Ex-MLA Patnam Narender Reddy

BRS leader and Siddipet MLA Harish Rao today lashed out at Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over the arrest of former Kodangal MLA Patnam Narender Reddy, and said that the CM would have to pay for this "corrupt" act.

Rao met Narender Reddy, who was arrested in connection with the Lagacharla violence case, in prison. Speaking to media persons later, he alleged that Reddy's arrest was part of a conspiracy to take revenge on the town, and claimed that a revolt against the administration in Kodangal had however begun.

"The arrest is a testimony to the government's depravity. The people of Lagacharla village are being punished for voting for the Congress. The Congress leaders are also constantly spreading lies about our party - whatever happens, wherever it happens, the blame is placed on the BRS. Revanth Reddy claims that if unemployed people, farmers or police voluntarily stage a dharna, it's orchestrated by the BRS. If tribals fight for their lands in Reddy's own constituency, it's said to be instigated by the BRS. If dalits protest against discrimination and ostracisation, that is said to be staged by the BRS. But despite all the Congress' allegations, it is our responsibility as an opposition party to fight if injustice is done to the people," he said.

Demanding the immediate release of the arrested tribal farmers, he asked, "Will arrests be made just for asking questions? Where is democracy? When Revanth Reddy protested for two days in Mallannasagar, did we stop him?"

He also asked the Congress government why the proposed Pharma City was not being established on the 14,000 acres of land acquired for that purpose during the BRS' rule. He also said that under the guise of the Indiramma scheme, dalit and tribal lands were being seized, and mockingly remarked, "Indiramma's Emergency rule is now visible. Its rule is to grab farmers' lands for Adani, Revanth Reddy's brothers and his son-in-law."