KTR condemns arrest of BRS leaders over Ambuja-Adani cement factory plebiscite

HYDERABAD: BRS Party Working President K Taraka Rama Rao condemned the house arrests and restrictions imposed on BRS leaders during the environmental plebiscite concerning the proposed Ambuja-Adani Cement Factory in Ramannapet, Nalgonda district.

KTR described these actions as "undemocratic" and criticised the police for preventing party leaders from attending the consultation.

KTR expressed outrage over the house arrests of Nalgonda district BRS President and former Devarakonda MLA Ravindra Kumar Naik, and ex-MLA Bhupal Reddy. He also criticised the police for stopping former MLAs Gadari Kishore Kumar and Chirumarthi Lingaiah from participating in the event, calling it an example of dictatorial behaviour.

He further accused the Revanth Reddy-led government of using intimidation tactics by pre-emptively arresting public representatives, environmentalists, and activists to suppress dissent. KTR argued that the plebiscite conducted under such oppressive conditions lacked legitimacy, stating it was merely an extension of the Adani group’s influence on the Congress government.

KTR demanded the immediate release of all BRS leaders and public organisation representatives who had been unlawfully detained. He challenged the Congress government to hold a free and fair plebiscite, without arrests or restrictions, to truly gauge the concerns of the local farmers and surrounding communities. He warned that if the government pushed forward with the project in an autocratic manner, the people would write the "death warrant" of the Congress administration.