Former BRS MLA arrested on way to party worker’s funeral ahead of Revanth Reddy’s public meeting

Hyderabad: Police on Monday arrested former Kodangal MLA and senior BRS leader Patnam Narender Reddy at Baharpet crossroads in Pargi when he was on his way to Kosgi to attend the funeral of a party worker who had died. Police said he was taken into custody as Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was scheduled to visit the area.

The BRS demanded for his immediate and unconditional release.

The arrest triggered protests by BRS workers, who surrounded the police vehicle and demanded his immediate release. Narender Reddy questioned why he was being stopped from proceeding to the funeral. Tension prevailed at the spot as workers raised slogans against the government.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao condemned the arrest, describing it as an undemocratic act by the Congress government. He questioned the need to detain a leader who was going to console the bereaved family and attend the funeral. Visiting a grieving party worker’s family had also become an offence under the Congress government, he asked.

He said the government was using arrests and preventive detentions to silence Opposition leaders and intimidate party workers. He said the BRS would not be deterred by such measures and demanded Narender Reddy’s immediate, unconditional release.

BRS Legislature Party deputy leader and Maheshwaram MLA P Sabitha Indra Reddy also condemned the arrest. She said preventing a leader from attending a party worker’s funeral and consoling the family was unjustified and contrary to democratic principles.

She accused the Congress government of suppressing Opposition voices through arrests and restrictions, and demanded that Narender Reddy be released without conditions.