Political tensions have escalated in Telangana following the arrest of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s state social media coordinator. The BJP has strongly reacted to the development, with senior party leader and Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy demanding the immediate release of the arrested party worker.

Reddy sharply criticised the Telangana government over the arrest, raising serious concerns about freedom of expression. He alleged that opposition voices were being deliberately suppressed and harassed in the state.

“Illegal arrest and suppression of free speech”: Reddy

Strongly condemning the police action, Reddy said the arrest reflects the “Emergency-like mentality” of the ruling government. He questioned why the BJP’s Telangana social media coordinator was taken into custody merely for exposing the government’s failures.

“As citizens of Telangana, we have every right to question the government and highlight its failures. I demand the immediate release of Sumiran,” Reddy posted on social media.

Midnight arrest over poster

The Union Minister alleged that while the Telangana government is hosting a Global Investment Summit to project Hyderabad as a safe and investor-friendly destination with predictable policies and the rule of law, the arrest of a BJP leader at midnight over a poster sends a completely opposite message.

He claimed that the poster had brought out the government’s failures and that the arrest was carried out solely to silence dissent.

“Such arbitrary actions raise serious doubts about the state’s credibility,” Reddy said, questioning whether potential investors would feel confident about investing in a state where the government allegedly acts in a dictatorial manner.

Attack on Revanth Reddy government

Without naming individuals in the administration, the Union Minister accused the current leadership under Revanth Reddy of intolerance and misuse of power. He warned that the people of Telangana would neither forget nor forgive what he described as the government’s authoritarian attitude.

The BJP has indicated that it will continue to press for the release of its party worker and escalate its protest against what it calls an “unjustified and illegal arrest.”