The police said the permission for the protest was till 6 pm, but Kishan Reddy and other BJP cadres exceeded the time limit.
Published Sep 13, 2023 | 11:31 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 13, 2023 | 11:32 PM
Union Culture and Tourism Minister and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy was arrested — and later let off — during the party’s 24-hour hunger strike held at Hyderabad’s Dharna Chowk on Wednesday, 13 September.
The protest was organised in solidarity with the unemployed youth of the state, according to the party. Reddy was joined by Telangana BJP in-charge Tarun Chug in the hunger strike.
“We arrested him around 7.30 pm because the police permitted the protest from 10 am to 6 pm, which means eight hours. But they said they would sit till tomorrow. So, we were left with no choice other than to arrest them. Now, he has gone to the BJP office at Nampally,” a senior police officer told South First on Wednesday.
Reddy was arrested by the Domalguda police, under whose jurisdiction the protest area fell.
Our arrest is your fall KCR garu..
the fight continues – for the rights of the people of Telangana.
KCR govt can't disrupt BJP's peaceful protest against his tyrannical rule and neglect to address the concerns of unemployed youth.. #BJPStands4Youth@BJP4Telangana pic.twitter.com/xHjXp4ID85
— G Kishan Reddy (Modi Ka Parivar) (@kishanreddybjp) September 13, 2023
Reddy alleged that the BRS government in Telangana had neglected the state’s employment sector over the past nine years.
“Thousands of young people laid down their lives for a separate Telangana during the first and final struggle for the state,” he said,
While recalling the fighting spirit of the unemployed youth during the million march, Sagara haram, Vanta varpu, and other such programmes, Reddy claimed that universities in the state were being neglected by the K Chandrashekar Rao regime.
“The hostels are empty. Innocent, unemployed youth hoped that all vacant teaching posts in universities would be filled, but the state government is delaying recruitment on the pretext of legal issues,” he said.
The Union minister added that over 35 lakh young men and women underwent coaching to attend the service commission exams that were cancelled because of various paper-leak scams.
He questioned the government over the provision of ₹3,016 unemployment benefit and making employees on contract permanent.
Reddy also held KCR responsible for the death of home guard Ravinder, who recently committed suicide. “Home guards have not been paid for two months,” he claimed.
Arrested by the KCR govt. –
For protesting against the failed promises on employment and youth.#BJPStands4Youth pic.twitter.com/IiOhTK3Lrn— G Kishan Reddy (Modi Ka Parivar) (@kishanreddybjp) September 13, 2023
Strongly condemning the “illegal arrest” of party president Kishan Reddy, BJP spokesperson NV Subhash termed it an “evil act.”
BJP 24-hour hunger strike in Hyderabad. (X)
“The police attack on BJP leaders and activists is a heinous act. It is evil that the police treated Kishan Reddy badly without even considering him as a Union minister,” he told South First.
Subhash also alleged that the government had cheated hundreds of youths.
“Why is the BRS government afraid of us protesting against the problems of the unemployed? It has become the KCR government’s habit to crack down on questioning voices and file illegal cases. Is this the constitution of Kalvakuntla? The days of the BRS government are numbered,” he said.
He added that the BJP was not afraid of “illegal arrests and cases, and will agitate until unemployed get justice”.
