Statewide protests demand Bandi’s removal

Telangana’s main Opposition party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), on Monday staged protests across the state, demanding immediate dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, over the arrest of his son Bandi Bhageerath in a POCSO case for alleged sexual assault of a minor girl.

BRS legislators and other leaders led the protests in all the constituencies. Holding placards and carrying banners, the protestors raised slogans in support of their demand.

BRS cadres held a huge protest in Huzurabad constituency under the leadership of party MLA, P. Kaushik Reddy.

A protestor was seen beating with footwear Bandi Sanjay’s picture on a banner while others raised slogans demanding the minister’s dismissal.

In Vemulawada, the BRS cadres staged a huge protest under the leadership of Chalmeda Lakshmi Narasimha Rao. They demanded that justice must be given to the minor victim.

The protestors sat on the road carrying banners and posters, demanding immediate resignation of the minister. They said if the MoS refuses to resign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should dismiss him.

In Gangadhara of Karimnagar district, former MLA Sunke Ravishankar led a massive protest. They demanded immediate dismissal of Bandi Sanjay.

There was tension at Netanna Chowrasta in Sircilla town when BJP cadres tried to disrupt a protest by BRS cadres to demand Bandi Sanjay’s dismissal. BRS leaders alleged that BJP workers hurled slippers on the BRS workers staging a peaceful protest.

Police resorted to mild lathi-charge and detained BJP workers to defuse the situation.

In Hyderabad, women leaders of BRS visited Bhagya Lakshmi temple at Charminar. Former MLA G. Sunitha told media persons that they prayed to Goddess Bhagya Lakshmi to bestow good wisdom upon Bandi Sanjay and his son. She said the Central minister should immediately resign.

BRS Working President, K.T. Rama Rao, on Sunday demanded immediate dismissal of Bandi Sanjay to ensure a fair and impartial investigation in the POCSO case involving his son Bandi Bhageerath.

He stated that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly speaks about “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” but said justice cannot be achieved if such slogans remain merely political rhetoric.

He remarked that perhaps for the first time in India, a situation has arisen where a lookout notice had to be issued against the son of a sitting Union Minister. Rama Rao questioned how the accused was allegedly hidden for nine days and asked who protected him during that period.

Bhageerath was arrested by Cyberabad police on the night of May 16. He was produced before a Magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.