KTR demands Balaraju’s unconditional release, condemns arrest over SC/ST case
Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao condemned the arrest of party leader Dudimetla Balaraju Yadav and demanded Balaraju’s unconditional release. He accused the Congress government of using police cases to suppress political criticism.
Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, alleged that the government was targeting opposition leaders for questioning its actions. He also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the SC/ST atrocity case registered against Balaraju.
Balaraju, a former state corporation chairman, faced arrest following a complaint lodged by Induja Reddy, wife of Congress MLC Balmuri Venkat.
KTR demands Balaraju’s unconditional release after SC/ST complaint
Reacting to the arrest on social media, KTR questioned the circumstances surrounding the police action against the BRS leader. According to KTR, Balaraju had addressed a press conference criticising alleged inappropriate remarks made by Congress MLC Balmuri Venkat.
The remarks reportedly concerned Balaraju and former minister Harish Rao. Subsequently, Induja Reddy lodged an SC/ST atrocity complaint against Balaraju, leading to his arrest.
KTR alleged that the Congress government was using the complaint to target a political opponent rather than address the criticism through political channels. He maintained that political differences should be settled through public debate instead of criminal proceedings.
KTR alleges police intimidation during Balaraju’s arrest
KTR also criticised the police over their alleged conduct during the arrest. He claimed that police personnel moved Balaraju around Hyderabad after taking him into custody.
Additionally, he alleged that officers intimidated members of Balaraju’s family during the operation. KTR questioned the need for such actions against a political leader who had publicly criticised a ruling party representative.
He argued that political criticism did not justify using police machinery to intimidate opposition leaders or their families. The BRS working president described the case as part of an alleged attempt to restrict opposition criticism.
BRS leader demands withdrawal of case
Reiterating his demand for Balaraju’s unconditional release, KTR called for the immediate withdrawal of the case. He maintained that allegations and police proceedings should not become instruments for suppressing democratic rights.
Furthermore, KTR asserted that opposition leaders had the right to question the government and criticise ruling party representatives. He said the government should respond to political criticism through political means rather than resorting to police cases.
KTR also alleged that false cases could not silence those questioning the administration. The BRS working president maintained that the right to question government decisions and ruling party leaders was essential in a democracy.
He demanded that authorities release Balaraju without conditions and withdraw the complaint-based proceedings against him.