BRS MLA Prashanth Reddy Demands Action Against SI Over Congress Flag Salute

A political controversy has erupted in Telangana after Balkonda MLA and former minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy demanded disciplinary action against a police officer who allegedly saluted a Congress party flag during a public event in Kamareddy district .

The BRS leader accused the ruling Congress government of eroding the neutrality of the police force and turning public institutions into extensions of the ruling party. His remarks came in response to an incident reported from Gandhari mandal , where local MLA Madan Mohan participated in a Congress flag-hoisting programme.

According to Prashanth Reddy, the mandal's Sub-Inspector Mahender was present at the event and was seen saluting the Congress flag. He argued that the participation of a serving police officer in a political party programme raises serious concerns about the impartiality expected from law enforcement personnel.

Describing the episode as disturbing, the former minister said police officers are entrusted with maintaining law and order without political bias and must remain detached from partisan activities. Any public display of allegiance to a political party, he contended, risks damaging the credibility of the police department and weakening public trust in the institution.

Prashanth Reddy further alleged that since the Congress came to power in Telangana, opposition leaders and activists have increasingly faced police action for questioning government policies and raising public issues. He claimed that law enforcement agencies were being used to target political opponents, adding that the Gandhari incident reflected a larger pattern of political influence over administrative institutions.

The controversy has also reignited a broader debate on the political neutrality of government employees , particularly members of the police force. Civil service conduct norms generally require officials to maintain strict political impartiality while performing their duties, as public confidence in governance depends heavily on the perception of fairness and independence.

Calling for immediate intervention, Prashanth Reddy urged the Director General of Police (DGP) to order a thorough inquiry into the incident. He demanded that if any violation of service rules is established, appropriate departmental action should be taken against the officer concerned.

The ruling Congress has not yet issued an official response to the allegations. Meanwhile, the incident has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing political confrontation between the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) , with both parties continuing to spar over the functioning of state institutions and governance standards.