Attack on OSD Sumanth is attack on me: Minister Surekha alleges conspiracy by ‘Reddy lobby’

Hyderabad: Referring to the recent police action against her (now dismissed) Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Narla Sumanth and their late-night visit to her home, minister Konda Surekha told AICC Telangana In-charge Meenakshi Natarajan that ‘the attack on her OSD is an attack on her.’

Sources close to Telangana Forest, Environment, and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha have strongly condemned the recent actions against her OSD Sumanth.

“Today, I came to meet AICC Telangana In-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and our TPCC President Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud also joined. I shared my thoughts and problems with them, and they’ve assured me that we’ll sit together to find a solution. I will move forward with whatever instructions they have given me. I won’t comment on other things. I came to meet her and said what I had to say,” said Minister Surekha.

‘Proper legal procedures were not followed’

The sources said that any attempt to target or harass Sumanth should be seen as an attack on the minister herself.

According to those close to the minister, if Sumanth had done anything wrong, the authorities could have followed proper legal procedures or brought the matter to the minister’s notice. Instead, the minister alleged an attempt was made to arrest him in an undemocratic and politically motivated manner.

‘Plan to falsely link Sumanth to reformed Naxalite’

A senior Congress leader, close to minister Surekha, said, “There was a plan to falsely implicate Sumanth under the Arms Act and a plan to link him to former MLC Konda Murali, who is a reformed Naxalite and a strong Backward Classes (BC) leader.”

Minister Surekha complains about ‘Reddy lobby’

In a meeting with the AICC Telangana in-charge, without mincing words, Konda Surekha complained to Natarajan about a larger political conspiracy by a certain ‘Reddy lobby’ within the system.

“The Reddy lobby has long been uncomfortable with the rising influence of BC leaders like Konda Murali and me,” she said in the meeting.

According to sources, the claim that Sumanth’s only ‘mistake’ was preventing irregularities and opposing the role of Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy in the Medaram temple contract works issue.

Senior Congress sources close to the minister said, “She is being unfairly targeted constantly.”

‘Top leaders have extended support to the minister’

Minister Konda Surekha has taken the matter very seriously and has already informed the top Congress leadership, including AICC Telangana In-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and several senior Cabinet Ministers.

Party sources said many of them have extended their full support to her stand and assured that justice will be ensured.

Minister Surekha has reportedly made it clear that she will not tolerate any illegal or politically motivated attempt to arrest or detain her OSD without her knowledge or consent. She emphasised that due process and respect for constitutional norms must be followed in every such action.

What happened on Wednesday night at Minister Surekha’s home?

On Wednesday late at night, the task force police reached the home of Minister Konda Surekha to arrest her OSD. Her daughter resisted the attempt.

Later, the minister spoke to CM Revanth Reddy's advisor, Vem Narender Reddy. Surekha defended her OSD and took up the issue with senior Congress leaders and Meenakshi Natarajan.