Complain Against KTR First, Says Congress MLC Balmoor Venkat

Government Whip and MLC Balmoor Venkat has hit back at the BRS over allegations concerning the treatment of its women MLAs during a protest, saying the party should first lodge a complaint against its working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) if it wanted action from the police.

Reacting to the allegations made by BRS women legislators over incidents during the ongoing Telangana Assembly session, Venkat accused the opposition party of trying to tarnish the image of the Congress government.

The BRS had alleged that former minister and MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy was pulled by her hair by the police during a protest outside the Assembly. The protest was organised by BRS leaders to highlight what they described as the Congress government's failure to fulfil its election promises even after completing 1,000 days in office.

Venkat dismissed the allegations and said the Congress had played a role in providing several BRS leaders an opportunity to serve as MLAs and ministers in the past. He accused them of now attempting to damage the party's reputation for political reasons.

“If they genuinely want to lodge a complaint, we are ready to provide the relevant videos and photographs,” Venkat said. He claimed that the available footage clearly showed KTR as the main person behind the incident and argued that any complaint should therefore begin with him.

On the allegations of inappropriate conduct by police personnel towards women MLAs, Venkat said the Speaker and Chief Minister had already assured the Assembly that the matter would be looked into. He said the government had made it clear that an inquiry would be conducted and strict action taken if any official was found to have acted improperly.

Despite these assurances, Venkat alleged that the BRS was continuing to raise the issue with a political motive and was attempting to use the incident to target the Congress government.