TS police puts stop to Bandi Sanjay's padayatra in Warangal; Yatra is on says BJP

Hyderabad: The Telangana police have directed the BJP Telangana state president and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay to end his padayatra in Warangal district. They said no permission was granted for the padayatra and that his derogatory speeches were disturbing the peace.

In an order issued on 23 August, the Telangana police said, "It has been noticed that you (Bandi Sanjay) have been conducting the Praja Sangarama Yatra in the limits of Jangaon district of Warangal commissionerate without permission from the competent authority. It has further come to the notice that you have been giving provocative statements during the said yatra."

The notice further said, "It is also learnt that you are planning to organise 'Dharam Deeksha' in the limits of Warangal commissionerate and mobilising huge crowds from other districts also. In view of your provocative statements and planned Deeksha, there is an apprehension of a breach of peace in the area resulting in serious law and order problems. Hence, you are hereby directed to immediately stop the Praja Sangrama Yatra, otherwise, action will be taken as per law for the maintenance of the peace and tranquility in the district."

The notice was addressed to Dr. G Manohar Reddy, BJP State Vice President & Convenor, Praja Sangrama Yatra, G. Premender Reddy, State General Secretary - BJP; D.Pradeep Kumar, State General Secretary - BJP and BJP State Chief and MP Bandi Sanjay.

Yatra will continue: BJP

The BJP, meanwhile, said the yatra will continue. "Nothing doing, the yatra will go on," the saffron party functionaries told NewsMeter. "We won't stop the yatra. Right now, party chief Bandi Sanjay is under house arrest. We will soon meet the Telangana Governor and submit a representation. The government cannot suppress the freedom of democratic right of a party," said Venkata Ramana, the head of the BJP IT cell.

He added, "The Telangana police, at the behest of the TRS, is doing this to distract the issue of TRS MLC K. Kavitha's alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor scam."

Earlier in the day, massive protests rocked different parts of Telangana after Bandi Sanjay was arrested by the Warangal police during his padayatra. Simultaneously, BJP MLA for Goshamahal Raja Singh was arrested for making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad. He was later suspended from the party.

Speaking to NewsMeter, BJP's Venkata Ramana said, "Bandi Sanjay is exposing the corrupt nexus between Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's family in the Delhi liquor scam. It is pertinent to note that the TRS government has rapidly increased the number of liquor belt shops not only to increase the revenue of the state but also to benefit his own family."

He said the youth are addicted to alcohol in villages. "Who is responsible for this? Their future is at stake. Whenever the BJP leaders or Karyakartas raise these issues, the Telangana police are quick to arrest them," he alleged. Bandi Sanjay and a few of his supporters were taken into custody at Station Ganpur.

War of words between BJP, TRS

The BJP has linked TRS MLC Kavitha with the Delhi liquor policy scam. On Sunday, the BJP alleged that K. Kavitha, who is Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter, played a crucial role in the multi-crore liquor policy scam involving Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against Sisodia and others, including Hyderabad-based Arun Ramachandran Pillai. CBI has accused them of committing financial irregularities in executing the new liquor policy in the national capital. During the BJP party meeting on Sunday, allegations were leveled against MLC Kavitha for her involvement in the Delhi Excise policy case.

Meanwhile, TRS MLC Kavitha has decided to file a defamation case against BJP MP Parvesh Varma and former MLA Manjinder Sirsa for "allegations" on the Excise policy. "We fought for the state of Telangana. We went on the roads to fight for it. We are not going to be cowed down by baseless allegations of Bharatiya Janata Party," said Kavitha.