Nadda calls Bandi Sanjay's arrest, TS 'violence' deplorable

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J.P Nadda on Monday lashed out at the Telangana government for attacking and arresting BJP state party chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

"The manner in which the Telangana police, under the pressure of the KCR government, forcibly entered the office of Kumar and resorted to violence and lathi-charge and thrashed and manhandled senior party leaders and workers is highly deplorable and condemnable," Mr. Nadda tweeted.

Telangana BJP president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar was sentenced to 14 days in judicial custody on Monday after his bail application was rejected by the district session court.

Bandi Sanjay along with four other BJP workers was arrested on 2 January after he was charged with breaking COVID-19 norms and other provisions of the Disaster Management Act and assaulting the police.

"It is yet another glaring example of the murder of democracy and constitutional rights by the Telangana government," Mr. Nadda said. He added that teachers and employees of the Telangana government had come to meet Bandi Sanjay at his Karimnagar Lok Sabha office to register their complaint against the KCR government.

"Following all COVID-appropriate protocol, Kumar along with BJP leaders and workers sat on a night-long vigil and fast to show his solidarity with the agitating teachers and employees at his office," Mr. Nadda said. "But the KCR government in Telangana was so scared of this peaceful protest that it ordered the police to launch an attack on the peaceful protest," he added.

Mr. Nadda said the Telangana police first cut the iron gates of the office and then entered the area where the protest was going on. He said the police launched a brutal attack on the BJP president and other party workers, including women. Kumar was arrested on Sunday evening.