BJP State chief placed under house arrest, stopped from visiting Peddamma Temple in Hyderabad

BJP Telangana chief N Ramchander Rao was placed under house arrest and barred from visiting Peddamma Temple in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The protest-linked programme drew heavy police deployment, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress government of undemocratic and discriminatory actions.

Hyderabad: BJP State president N Ramchander Rao was placed under house arrest on Tuesday and prevented from visiting the Peddamma Temple at Jubilee Hills, where he was scheduled to participate in the Kumkum Archana programme organised by a few voluntary organisations.

Several BJP leaders, including a few corporators, were also placed under house arrest. The programme was reportedly organised as a mark of protest against recent HYDRAA demolitions near the temple.

Anticipating tension, police deployed heavy forces at the temple premises and at the residences of senior BJP leaders.

Condemning the police action, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay accused the Congress government of “undemocratic and dictatorial governance”.

“This is a ploy of the Congress government to gain the confidence of one community’s voters ahead of the Jubilee Hills bye-election. What’s wrong if Hindus visit a temple? Is it against law?” he asked.

The BJP MP further alleged that the Congress government was discriminating against Hindus, warning that people would give a “befitting lesson” to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his government.