BRS leaders placed under 'house arrest'

Former minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Deputy Floor Leader, Sabitha Indra Reddy, and former IPS officer-turned-BRS leader R.S. Praveen Kumar on Saturday alleged that they had been placed under house arrest ahead of the party's 'Yuva Sangrama Sadassu' in Hyderabad.

The BRS strongly criticised the alleged action, terming it unconstitutional and asserting that the public meeting had already received the necessary permission from both the Telangana High Court and the police authorities.

The two leaders condemned the alleged move, describing it as arbitrary and undemocratic. They questioned the rationale behind placing them under house arrest despite the High Court granting permission for the event to be held.

The party is organising its Yuva Sangrama Sabha at the Saroornagar Stadium on Saturday and expects participation from nearly 10,000 people. According to the organisers, the public meeting is scheduled to conclude by 1 p.m.

On Friday, the Telangana High Court granted conditional permission for the BRS to hold the public meeting. While allowing the event, the court directed the organisers to ensure that law and order is maintained throughout the programme.

The court made it clear that the permission is subject to conditions. The BRS has been directed to conduct the meeting peacefully, without road blockades, and speakers have been asked not to make provocative speeches.

Government counsel submitted that Intelligence reports suggested the programme could lead to law-and-order problems and noted inadequate parking arrangements near the venue.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao had welcomed the order, saying Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's attempt to disrupt the convention and silence unemployed youth had failed. He said while the state government denied permission, the High Court upheld democratic rights.

The BRS chose Saroornagar Stadium as the venue since Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had unveiled the party's youth declaration there ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections.

The BRS alleged that the Congress government failed to fulfil promises made to youth and unemployed people under its Youth Declaration. KTR said students and unemployed youth continue to question the government's inability to implement its pre‑poll assurances.