Vandalism at T. Harish Rao’s Office Sparks Political Tensions in Siddipet
Hyderabad: The office of BRS legislator and former Telangana Minister T. Harish Rao in Siddipet was vandalized by unidentified individuals in the early hours of Saturday. This incident has intensified the political tensions in the area, with accusations and counter-accusations flying between the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the ruling Congress party.
The unrest began on Friday night when Congress workers displayed a flexi banner demanding Harish Rao’s resignation as MLA, in light of the Telangana government’s recent implementation of the crop loan waiver. Harish Rao had previously challenged the government, stating he would resign if the Chief Minister Reddy implemented the waiver.
As tensions mounted, supporters of Harish Rao removed the banner, leading to clashes between the two groups. The situation was brought under control only after police intervention.
However, in the early hours of Saturday, a group of unidentified individuals entered Harish Rao’s office, tore down the remaining banners, and chanted “Jai Congress” slogans. This act of vandalism has been condemned by Harish Rao, who attributed the attack to the ruling Congress party.
In a statement posted on X, Harish Rao criticized the incident as an alarming example of lawlessness and undemocratic behavior. He accused the police of failing to prevent the attack and urged the Director General of Police to take immediate action.
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao also condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act and accusing the Congress of inciting violence with police assistance. He pointed out that Telangana had been free from political violence for the past decade and criticized Congress for undermining democratic values.
KT Rama Rao questioned the integrity of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, contrasting his rhetoric of “Mohabbat Ki Dukan” (shop of love) with the party’s actions in Telangana, which he described as a “Nafrat Ki Dukan” (shop of hatred). He further questioned whether Gandhi, as a protector of constitutional values, endorsed such violence.
The political clash follows the launch of the final phase of the crop loan waiver program by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on August 15. Reddy had previously challenged Harish Rao to resign or apologize to Telangana farmers, adding fuel to the ongoing political dispute.
This incident underscores the escalating political tensions and the volatile atmosphere surrounding the Telangana political landscape.
