MoS lashes out at police; BRS approaches EC to declare bypoll sensitive

Ahead of the Jubilee Hills bypoll, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Thursday lashed out at the Telangana police after the permission for his campaign in Borabanda was cancelled. The police had cited a campaign by another political party to deny him permission initially.

Meanwhile, the BRS has urged the Election Commission of India to declare the entire Jubilee Hills constituency as “sensitive” and deploy central armed forces, alleging that the ruling Congress was indulging in intimidation and gearing up for mass rigging.

Advertisement

Following the withdrawal of permission for his programme, the Union minister slammed the Telangana government and police, insinuating it was being run by the AIMIM, which is supporting the Congress candidate in Jubilee Hills Constituency.

Lashing out on social media platforms, Bandi Sanjay said, “Is this democracy or Razakar rule? Is this Telangana’s governance or control from Darussalam? Have the police been handed over to AIMIM’s command? Permission for the BJP’s Jubilee Hills campaign in Borabanda was first given and then suddenly rejected at 1 pm today – what are they so afraid of? The people’s voice or the rise of the BJP?”

While denying permission for the BJP’s programme, the returning officer had said that the assistant commissioner of police, Panjagutta, submitted a report stating that since permission had already been given to another political programme, it may be denied in case of the BJP.

Annoyed, the Union minister challenged the police, saying, “Irrespective of permission, I am coming to Borabanda. Let them stop me. BJP has fought bigger battles and never surrendered. To every BJP karyakarta – reach Borabanda in full strength this evening.”

The minister eventually reached Borabanda in the evening after the police permission was granted.

Meanwhile, the BRS Rajya Sabha MP KR Suresh Reddy approached the Election Commission in New Delhi and urged it to declare Jubilee Hills as a sensitive constituency, pointing out that chief minister Revanth Reddy has been continuously campaigning for the bypoll for the past six days.

It also alleged that scores of minority women have been brought in to cast false votes, taking advantage of the burkha. It has asked for the installation of CCTV cameras and central webcasting in polling booths to ensure free and fair polls along with other security measures.