Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay under house arrest after calling for protest against K Kavitha

Bandi Sanjay’s call was in response to the arrest of 29 BJP workers in Hyderabad on Monday for rioting outside Kavitha’s residence. The BJP workers were demanding Kavitha’s resignation over her alleged links to the Delhi liquor scam.

Arrest amidst high tension

Reportedly, the police offered security to Sanjay for his padayatra following intelligence reports that TRS activists were planning to obstruct him, which might result in violence.

Sanjay, however, rejected the police security and said that his supporters would take care of his security.

He also warned the police of dire consequences if his supporters were harmed. Following this, the police executed a preventive arrest, citing security reasons.

Watch @BJP4Telangana president @bandisanjay_bjp courts ‘preventive arrest’. Karimnagar MP’s arrest leaves BJP fuming. pic.twitter.com/m9UnybJFGX

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) August 23, 2022

According to reports, Sanjay was held as he was about to stage a sit-in at Jangaon, with BJP workers trying to stop police vehicles from taking him away. Several BJP workers were injured as they were dispersed by the police.

On Monday, BJP workers had made a concerted effort to lay siege to the Banjara Hills residence of Kavitha, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter, demanding action against her.

They were chased by TRS workers at the scene. Many BJP workers were detained at the venue.

No more padayatra, say police

Meanwhile, the police on Tuesday also issued a notice to Bandi Sanjay to immediately stop the padayatra.

The Warangal Commissionerate’s Wardhannapet Division Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) G Ramesh said in the notice: “…[Y]ou 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 tranquillity in the district.”

The top cop told Bandi Sanjay: “It has been noticed that you have been conducting the Praja Sangarama Yatra in the limits of Jangaon District of Warangal Commissionerate without permission from the competent authority.”

He added: “It has further come to the notice of the undersigned that, repeatedly you have been giving provocative statements during the said Yatra.”

Ramesh went on to note that the BJP leader was also planning to organise a “Dharam Deeksha” within the limits of the Warangal Commissionerate and mobilising huge crowds from other districts for it.

“In view of your provocative statements and planned Deeksha with huge gathering from other districts, there is an apprehension of breach of peace in the area, resulting in serious law-and-order problems,” said the ACP while directing Bandi Sanjay to stop the padayatra.

Bandi Sanjay under house arrest

After his arrest at Jangaon, Bandi Sanjay was put under house arrest in Karimnagar. Telangana BJP leaders visited him to show solidarity.

He asked the TRS government why he was arrested even after taking police permission for the programme. “If the TRS activists were planning to obstruct the programme, they should be arrested and not me,” he said.

“We have been doing the padayatra for the last 21 days. Why did you arrest me today? If there arises a security issue, it is because of you only. It is the TRS activists who are geared up to attack us at the padayatra,” he lamented.

Live: Press Conference https://t.co/phIPGdP92A

— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) August 23, 2022

He attacked Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao for resorting to the arrests to protect his daughter Kavitha.

He added that the TRS was trembling after seeing the public response to his padayatra, called the Praja Sangrama Yatra.

He questioned the corruption allegations against the KCR family. “What was your profession before you became the chief minister? Where did your family accumulate assets worth thousands of crores?” he asked.

He also warned Rao that the Delhi liquor scam details would soon be out and Kavitha’s involvement in it would be revealed.

He said that the Telangana liquor scam would also be probed and the corruption of the KCR family would be made public soon.

BJP condemns arrest

BJP leaders, including the party’s National Vice-president DK Aruna and MLA Raghunandan Rao, have condemned the arrests.

“TRS is unable to digest BJP’s growth in the state. The large audience at the Munugode public meeting has worried them. There is no need to react this harshly against our activists for protesting at MLC Kavitha’s house. And today, when Bandi Sanjay is protesting against the arrest, they have arrested him for no reason,” said Aruna.

“It is natural that allegations are made against leaders in politics. It is their responsibility to clear them. How is it fair if they don’t want us to even question their (TRS) wrong deeds? Vendetta politics is ruling the roost in the state for the past eight-and-a-half years, ” Aruna added.

“The police have tried to file ‘attempt to murder’ cases on our activists. Upon our protests across the state, they have finally changed the cases. They have arrested our leader Bandi Sanjay for exercising his democratic right to protest this injustice. The people of Telangana will reject this TRS government soon and teach them a lesson,” said Raghunandan Rao.

TRS-BJP relations take a plunge

Relations between the TRS and the BJP, already at a nadir because of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s constant sniping at the party’s central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, plunged further on Monday after an MP from the party alleged that Kavitha had links to the Delhi liquor scam.

The allegation prompted Kavitha to come out swinging at the BJP in a quickly organised meeting with reporters.

Charging the BJP with indulging in vendetta politics, she dismissed the allegations as “completely baseless” and said she was willing to be investigated by any agency the Centre may choose.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi told the reporters on Tuesday that a CBI enquiry into Kavitha’s involvement in the Delhi liquor scam was underway.

He asked the TRS-led Telangana government why Bandi Sanjay was arrested if the KCR family had no connection with the scam.

He gave assurances that the truth would come out once the investigation was complete. He also said that the BJP functions transparently, whether it is in power or in the Opposition.

Telangana Congress reacts

Meanwhile, Telangana Congress leader Bhatti Vikramarka demanded that the facts about the liquor scam should be revealed. “If there is a Delhi liquor scam, there should’ve been a Telangana liquor scam as well and it should be probed,” he said.

Congress leader Madhu Goud Yaskhi also demanded that the enquiry should be expedited. “Kavitha is known for her corrupt ways. How did Kavitha, who lives in a three-bedroom flat earn ₹300 crore?” he asked.

The Telangana Congress demanded that the facts of the liquor scam be made public and that whoever was involved in the scam be arrested.