Hyderabad: Former minister and sitting Maheshwaram MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy objected to a breach of protocol during a ration card distribution programme in her constituency, after defeated Congress candidate K. Laxma Reddy shared the stage with Minister D. Sridhar Babu.
The incident triggered a sharp protest from Sabitha, who later told reporters that events must follow official protocol. “If you have guts, conduct programmes properly by following rules,” she said.
A protocol clash erupts over the Congress leader’s presence
Sabitha questioned the decision to include Laxma Reddy—who is neither an elected MLA nor a government representative—on stage, likening the event to a political meeting at Gandhi Bhavan. She asked whether ration cards were being distributed on behalf of the Congress party or the government.
She also criticised the government for turning the ration card drive into a publicity exercise ahead of local body elections. “Is this noise just for giving out 1,700 cards?” she asked.
Sabitha further questioned the deployment of police for what she called a public governance activity. “Is public service now conducted under police security?” she said. She added that she remained silent during the event only to avoid disrupting benefits meant for eligible recipients.