Congress raises alarm over withdrawal of security for Revanth Reddy

In a heated revelation this Thursday, the conspicuous absence of security for the prominent Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy has caused political unrest. Accusations fly as Congress leaders contend that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government intentionally left their esteemed leader vulnerable, suggesting a political agenda at play.

Revanth Reddy, who serves not only as the president of TPCC but also as Malkajgiri MP, witnessed his security detail’s unexpected absence over the past few days. This sudden void followed his controversial remarks, accusing certain high-ranking officials of siding with the ruling party and stifling the voices of Congress leaders and workers. The allegations led to numerous cases being filed against Reddy for purportedly undermining the police force’s morale. Inside sources suggest the security’s removal was a tactic to pressurize the TPCC president into an apology.

While the exact origins of this order remain unclear, close sources to Revanth Reddy stated, “The police would not act without directions from political superiors.” Meanwhile, the Rachakonda commissionerate responsible for Revanth Reddy’s security chose to remain silent on the matter. Although an official negated any security removal, he evaded questions regarding the apparent security lapse for Revanth Reddy.

Telangana Congress raises alarm over withdrawal of security for TPCC president Revanth Reddy amid political tensions. Photo courtesy of Government of India, Lok Sabha/Wikimedia Commons.

Inside reports from the Revanth Reddy faction revealed that when a lone security official appeared on Thursday, a disgruntled Revanth Reddy promptly dismissed him. Historically, Revanth Reddy was ensured stringent security until the “cash for vote” scandal. Since then, sporadic attempts have been made to diminish his security, pushing the Congress leader to appeal to the High Court.

A senior Congress leader highlighted that during Revanth Reddy’s “padayatra”, the High Court was notified of 25 security personnel assigned to the leader. The narrative presented by the government, as per this leader, underscores the significant security risks faced by Revanth Reddy. The Congress, in its statements, suggests the BRS leadership’s ploys to intimidate their chief campaigner with the elections on the horizon, stating, “It’s evident that BRS is feeling the pressure.”

Furthering their contention, Congress juxtaposed the government’s swift response in elevating BJP MLA Etala Rajendar‘s security following threat complaints. Rumors suggest minister K.T. Rama Rao reassured Etala Rajendar of augmented security even before the central government sanctioned the ‘Y’ category protection. The constant elevation of security for ruling party MLAs, as seen with P. Rohit Reddy, has also perturbed the Revanth Reddy camp, accentuating the ongoing political turbulence.