K.T. Rama Rao Demands Apology from Telangana CM After NHRC Confirms Rights Violations in Lagacharla
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao has called on Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to issue an unconditional apology to the farmers of Lagacharla, following a damning report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that confirmed serious human rights violations during a protest over land acquisition for the proposed Pharma City.
In a strongly worded statement, K.T. Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, thanked the NHRC for its independent investigation, which he said vindicated long-standing concerns raised by the opposition.
“The report exposed what we have been saying all along — the Congress government and its police acted high-handedly towards the tribal farmers and women of Lagacharla,” KTR posted on X (formerly Twitter).
NHRC Confirms Police Excesses
The NHRC’s findings follow an inquiry into a November 2024 incident, where residents of Lagacharla protested the acquisition of their land for the Pharma City project. Tensions escalated when protestors clashed with government officials during a public hearing, leading to the arrest of several villagers. According to the NHRC report, some of the arrested were detained and physically tortured at the Parigi police station, including individuals who were not present at the site and whose land was not even under acquisition.
The Commission deemed the actions of the police as politically motivated, stating that opposition party workers from BRS and the BJP were specifically targeted.
“Governments come and go, but abuse of power will not be tolerated… This is a great first step for all these tribal brothers and sisters who fought valiantly against the Revanth government,” KTR said, reiterating BRS’s commitment to upholding the rights of Telangana’s citizens.
NHRC Recommendations
In light of its findings, the NHRC has issued directives to the Chief Secretary of Telangana and the Director General of Police (DGP):
- Refrain from taking punitive action against villagers who were not involved in the incident.
- Ensure that police and civic authorities act sensibly and in accordance with human rights norms.
- Submit a detailed action taken report on the matter.
The NHRC’s intervention follows complaints from villagers who alleged harassment, unlawful arrests, and fabricated charges, sparking widespread concern over the use of state power against tribal and marginalized communities.
Political Fallout
KTR’s remarks are expected to fuel political tensions in Telangana, with the BRS using the NHRC report as a rallying point to critique the Congress-led administration’s handling of dissent. He accused CM Revanth Reddy — who also holds the Home Minister portfolio — of failing in his constitutional responsibilities and urged him to publicly apologize to the affected farmers and tribal families.
“I demand an unconditional apology to the farmers of Lagacharla from Revanth Reddy, who is not just the Chief Minister but also the Home Minister of Telangana,” KTR declared.
As the state government faces increased scrutiny, the NHRC’s findings are likely to have long-term implications on how land acquisition and protests are handled, particularly in regions involving tribal populations and contentious development projects.
