Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao on Tuesday accused the Congress-led Telangana government of using arrests and detentions against opposition leaders, escalating the political confrontation between the ruling party and the BRS.

KTR's remarks came a day after he, former minister T Harish Rao and several other BRS leaders were detained by police during a protest outside the Telangana Legislative Assembly in Hyderabad. The BRS leaders were demonstrating against what they described as the Congress government's failure to fulfil its election commitments during its 1,000 days in office.

KTR questions Congress government's performance

In a post on X, KTR questioned what he described as the Congress government's record during its tenure so far. He alleged that the administration had failed to implement the party's six guarantees and other electoral commitments, and said arrests and detentions had become its principal response to opposition protests.

KTR also claimed that the Congress had made hundreds of promises during the election campaign and had assured voters that they would be implemented within 100 days. The BRS has been using the government's 1,000-day mark to intensify its criticism of the ruling party. 

BRS leaders detained during Assembly protest

The latest confrontation followed a BRS protest on September 7. KTR, Harish Rao and other party legislators attempted to enter the Assembly premises wearing black T-shirts carrying slogans criticising the Congress government's performance.

Police stopped the legislators at the Assembly gates, following which tensions rose between BRS members and security personnel. KTR, Harish Rao and other leaders were subsequently detained and taken to police stations. 

The BRS has described the police action as an attempt to suppress opposition voices, while the circumstances surrounding the confrontation have become part of a wider political dispute between the two parties.

Fresh controversy over BRS MLC arrests

The political row continued on Tuesday with BRS MLCs T Madhusudan Rao, popularly known as Tata Madhu, and Naveen Reddy also facing police action in connection with the events surrounding the Assembly protest.

The BRS alleged that the two legislators were illegally arrested and accused the Revanth Reddy-led government of adopting an authoritarian approach. These allegations are part of the BRS's political response and have not been independently established as fact. 

KTR raises allegations involving women MLAs

KTR also criticised the alleged treatment of BRS women legislators during Monday's protest. He referred to former minister and BRS MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy and another woman legislator, alleging that they were manhandled during the confrontation.

The BRS has alleged that police personnel used force against its women legislators. Separately, reports have also carried allegations concerning the conduct of BRS legislators and police personnel during the protest, underlining the conflicting versions emerging from the incident. 

Telangana Assembly row adds to political tensions

The dispute also spilled into the Assembly after Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar became emotional while recounting an alleged incident involving remarks attributed to BRS MLC Tata Madhu.

Congress leaders condemned the alleged remarks and sought action, while Tata Madhu denied that his comments were directed at the Speaker and maintained that they were made in the context of the confrontation with police. 

The developments have further sharpened the confrontation between the Congress government and the BRS, with both sides accusing the other of undermining democratic and legislative norms.

High Court intervention

The confrontation has also drawn judicial attention. The Telangana High Court directed the state's Director General of Police not to prevent BRS MLAs from entering the Legislative Assembly, amid allegations concerning police conduct toward opposition legislators. 

For the BRS, the arrests and the Assembly confrontation have become a central political issue as it seeks to challenge the Congress government's record. The ruling party, meanwhile, has faced demands to respond to the allegations surrounding the protest and the conduct of its political opponents.

The continuing dispute is likely to keep the focus on both the Congress government's governance record and the functioning of the opposition inside Telangana's legislature.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Naveen Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said the party would continue raising public issues despite the arrests of its leaders amid an escalating political confrontation with the Telangana government.

Reddy, who was arrested following the developments at the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday, said the BRS would continue to raise the concerns of people in both the Legislative Council and Assembly.

“No matter how many illegal arrests they make, we will stand on the side of the people,” Reddy said in a statement. He added that the party leadership had asked its leaders to continue fighting for public issues and said the BRS would hold the government led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy accountable.

Naveen Reddy arrested amid Assembly row

The BRS MLC was taken into custody on Tuesday morning, a day after a confrontation involving BRS legislators and police outside the Assembly premises.

Reports said police arrested Reddy from his residence in Hyderabad. BRS leaders have described the action as part of a wider attempt to restrict opposition legislators from raising issues against the government. 

The circumstances surrounding the arrests have become a fresh point of confrontation between the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS.

BRS condemns arrests of MLCs

Reddy's statement came as the BRS condemned the arrest of fellow party MLC T Madhusudan Rao, popularly known as Tata Madhu.

Police arrested the two BRS MLCs in connection with a case concerning alleged derogatory and abusive remarks against Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. According to reports, the case was registered following a complaint by the Speaker's Officer on Special Duty. 

The police action has triggered competing allegations from the two political sides, with the BRS questioning the manner in which its legislators were detained.

BRS alleges political targeting

The opposition party has alleged that police action was being used to prevent its legislators from raising public concerns and challenging the Congress government.

BRS leader T Harish Rao alleged that police, acting on the instructions of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, prevented party MLAs and MLCs from entering the Assembly and used force against them. These allegations have been made by the BRS and have not been independently established. 

Reddy's remarks similarly framed the arrests as an attempt to deter the opposition from continuing its political campaign.

Police case linked to Assembly incident

The arrests are linked to events surrounding a protest by BRS legislators at the Assembly on September 7.

According to the police complaint, BRS leaders allegedly assembled in the security area of the Assembly and made remarks directed at the Speaker. Police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Tata Madhu has denied insulting the Speaker, saying that remarks attributed to him were directed at police personnel during the confrontation. 

Political confrontation intensifies

The arrests have added another flashpoint to the continuing Congress-BRS political conflict in Telangana.

For the BRS, the incident has become an opportunity to accuse the Revanth Reddy government of suppressing opposition voices. The ruling side, meanwhile, has maintained that police action relates to the allegations arising from the Assembly incident.

With BRS leaders vowing to continue raising public issues despite the arrests, the dispute is likely to remain a major political issue in Telangana as the Assembly and Legislative Council proceedings continue.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Thatha Madhusudan Rao, popularly known as Tata Madhu, was arrested by Saifabad Police on Tuesday in connection with a case over alleged derogatory and abusive remarks against Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.

Police officials said Tata Madhu was arrested around 7 am from his residence at the New MLA Quarters in Hyderabad. He was subsequently taken to Narayanguda Police Station and is being produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court at Nampally for judicial custody proceedings. 

Case registered after Assembly incident

The case was registered at Saifabad Police Station following a complaint by Pollepalli Venkatesham, Officer on Special Duty to the Telangana Assembly Speaker.

According to the complaint, the alleged remarks were made on Monday, September 7, when the Assembly was in session and security arrangements were in place. Police said Tata Madhu and BRS MLC N Naveen Kumar Reddy, along with other party members, were present in the security area of the Assembly and allegedly made remarks against the Speaker in the presence of journalists, media personnel, Assembly staff and security personnel. 

Police registered Crime No. 364/2026 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation is being conducted by Saifabad Police. 

Tata Madhu denies insulting Speaker

Tata Madhu has denied that his remarks were directed at Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. According to reports, the BRS MLC maintained that his comments were directed towards police personnel during the confrontation surrounding the BRS protest.

The BRS has also rejected the allegations against its leaders and accused the Congress-led Telangana government of targeting opposition representatives.

Naveen Kumar Reddy also taken into custody

The controversy also led to police action against another BRS MLC, Naveen Kumar Reddy. Police took him into custody from his residence in Kokapet on Tuesday morning in connection with the same case. 

The arrests came amid heightened tensions between the BRS and the ruling Congress following a protest by BRS legislators outside the Assembly on September 7.

BRS protest triggers confrontation

The dispute began when BRS leaders arrived at the Telangana Assembly wearing black T-shirts carrying slogans criticising the Congress government's record and its implementation of electoral guarantees.

Police stopped the legislators from entering the Assembly premises, leading to a confrontation between BRS members and security personnel. Several senior BRS leaders, including party working president KT Rama Rao and former minister T Harish Rao, were detained during the episode. 

The BRS subsequently accused the government of using police action to suppress opposition voices, while the ruling side maintained that action was being taken in connection with the alleged conduct of BRS leaders.

Speaker's remarks intensify political row

The issue gained further attention inside the Assembly after Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar became emotional while recounting the alleged remarks and circumstances surrounding the incident.

Congress leaders condemned the alleged comments and demanded action against Tata Madhu. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also called for action against the BRS MLC, describing the alleged remarks as an issue concerning the dignity of the Speaker's office.

The BRS, however, has maintained that the allegations against Tata Madhu are politically motivated and that the government is attempting to target its leaders amid the ongoing confrontation over the Congress government's performance.

Political tensions continue in Telangana

The arrest of Tata Madhu and the detention of Naveen Kumar Reddy have added another flashpoint to the increasingly heated Congress-BRS confrontation in Telangana.

With police investigating the allegations and the BRS continuing to question the arrests, the dispute is expected to remain a major issue during the ongoing Assembly session.

The case also places the focus on the balance between legislative conduct, political protest and police action as both parties continue to put forward competing accounts of the September 7 incident.

BRS leaders staged a protest outside the Narayanguda Police Station in Hyderabad on Tuesday, demanding the release of party MLCs Tata Madhu and Naveen Kumar Reddy, who were arrested following Monday’s confrontation involving BRS legislators and police outside the Telangana Assembly. 

BRS steps up protest after MLC arrests

The demonstration came hours after police arrested the two BRS MLCs in connection with the developments at the Assembly. Tata Madhu was arrested around 7 am and taken to Narayanguda Police Station before being produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Nampally for judicial custody. 

BRS leaders have strongly objected to the arrests, accusing the Congress-led Telangana government of using police action against Opposition representatives. The party has maintained that its legislators were protesting over public issues and alleged that the arrests were politically motivated. 

Tata Madhu booked over alleged remarks

The immediate legal issue concerns alleged derogatory and abusive remarks against Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar during Monday’s confrontation.

Police registered Crime No. 364/2026 at Saifabad Police Station under Section 352 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The complaint was filed by Pollepalli Venkatesham, Officer on Special Duty to the Speaker. 

According to the complaint, Tata Madhu and Naveen Kumar Reddy, along with others, were present in a security area of the Assembly when the alleged remarks were made in the presence of journalists, Assembly staff and security personnel. Police said the investigation is underway. 

Tata Madhu, however, has denied insulting the Speaker and said his comments were directed at police personnel during the confrontation. 

BRS calls arrests action against Opposition

The arrests have widened an already intense political confrontation between the BRS and the Congress government led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

BRS leaders have described the arrests as an attempt to restrict the Opposition from raising public concerns inside the legislature. BRS MLC Naveen Reddy, following his arrest, said the party would continue raising issues concerning people despite the action against its leaders.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao has also accused the state government of resorting to arrests and detentions instead of addressing what the party says are unfulfilled election commitments.

Dispute began with Assembly protest

The latest confrontation follows a BRS protest outside the Telangana Assembly on Monday. KTR, former minister T Harish Rao and other BRS legislators had gathered to protest against the Congress government's performance after 1,000 days in office.

The legislators were wearing black T-shirts carrying slogans criticising the government. Police said the issue was not the colour of the clothing but the slogans printed on the T-shirts, which they described as objectionable. The standoff subsequently escalated into a confrontation between BRS legislators and police. 

Several BRS leaders, including KTR and Harish Rao, were detained during the protest. Police have also registered separate cases against several BRS leaders over allegations of obstructing and assaulting police personnel during the confrontation. 

Political row intensifies in Telangana

The dispute also reached the Assembly, where Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar became emotional while the alleged remarks were discussed. Congress leaders condemned the alleged comments and sought action against Tata Madhu, while the BRS rejected the allegations. 

The Telangana High Court separately directed the state DGP not to prevent BRS MLAs from entering the Assembly to attend the ongoing session, adding another legal dimension to the confrontation between the ruling party and the Opposition. 

The protest outside Narayanguda Police Station marks a further escalation as the BRS presses for the release of its arrested MLCs, while police proceedings linked to Monday's Assembly confrontation continue.

Hyderabad: The Telangana BJP has criticised the Congress government over its 1,000-day milestone, saying people deserve answers on the government’s election promises rather than celebrations.BJP state chief spokesperson and media in-charge NV Subhash questioned what the government had achieved during its tenure and asked how many of the six guarantees promised by Congress in the 2023 Assembly elections had been fully implemented.“After 1,000 days, the people of Telangana deserve answers, not celebrations,” Subhash said, according to ANI inputs. He also questioned the implementation of the party's broader set of election commitments.

BJP questions six guarantees

Subhash alleged that several promises remained incomplete, delayed or only partially implemented. He specifically raised questions over assistance promised to women, farmers and other sections of society.The BJP spokesperson also referred to the Congress' employment promise, questioning why the target of filling 1 lakh government vacancies by June 2026 had not been achieved. The state government has said around 70,000 government posts have been filled.On women's welfare, Subhash acknowledged the implementation of free travel for women in Telangana State Road Transport Corporation buses but questioned the financial impact on the transport corporation. He also asked why the promised ₹2,500 monthly assistance for eligible women had not been fully implemented.The BJP has also raised issues related to farmers' assistance and crop-loan support, arguing that announcements need to translate into benefits reaching every eligible beneficiary.

Congress highlights welfare and development record

The BJP's criticism comes as the Congress government led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy marks 1,000 days in office.The government has presented a different assessment of its tenure, highlighting measures covering farmers, women, students, employees and unemployed youth. The Chief Minister's Office has pointed to welfare programmes, infrastructure development and economic growth as key areas of its record.Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud said the government had spent around ₹1.75 lakh crore on agriculture and cited farm-loan waivers benefiting more than 25 lakh farmers, Rythu Bharosa payments and free agricultural power among its achievements. He also said more than 70,000 government appointments had been made.The Congress has also highlighted Gruha Jyothi, which provides up to 200 units of free electricity to eligible households, ₹500 LPG cylinders and the issuance of more than 16 lakh new ration cards.

Opposition steps up pressure

The BJP's attack is part of a wider political confrontation over the Congress government's first 1,000 days.The BRS has announced a separate statewide campaign from September 2 to highlight what it calls the Congress government's failures and alleged betrayal of election promises. The party is also preparing a charge sheet against the government.The BJP, meanwhile, has planned protests on several issues, including Section 22A, fee reimbursement dues and farmers' concerns. Party leaders have also announced programmes ahead of the Telangana Assembly session beginning September 7.Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has responded by challenging BRS president and Leader of Opposition K Chandrasekhar Rao to a debate in the Assembly comparing the Congress government's 1,000 days with the previous BRS government's 10-year tenure.With the Congress highlighting its welfare and development record and the BJP and BRS focusing on unfulfilled promises, the 1,000-day milestone has become a fresh battleground over the performance of the Telangana government.

 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has accused leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of allegedly performing “black magic” and rituals with the intention of destabilising and defaming the Congress government in the state.

Reddy made the remarks while addressing an event in Sangareddy on Saturday, where he participated in a smart ration card distribution programme. Without naming BRS MLA and senior party leader T. Harish Rao, the Chief Minister alleged that the former minister had visited temples in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to perform rituals against the state government.

The allegations have added another political flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS, with Harish Rao rejecting the claims and accusing the Chief Minister of making false statements.

Reddy Links Rituals to Government

According to Reddy, BRS leaders were allegedly praying for drought, farmers' difficulties and the downfall of the Congress government.

The Chief Minister claimed that such activities were aimed at damaging the government's image and creating difficulties for the people of Telangana.

However, the allegations were presented as political claims, and no independent evidence was cited to establish that Harish Rao or other BRS leaders had performed black magic or rituals against the government.

Congress Had Made Similar Claim

Reddy's latest statement follows a similar allegation made earlier this month by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud.

On August 4, Goud had alleged that Harish Rao had performed what he described as “evil worship” or black magic with the intention of stopping rainfall in Telangana.

The issue resurfaced during Reddy's Sangareddy programme, with the Chief Minister repeating allegations concerning alleged rituals in neighbouring states.

The BRS has rejected the accusations and has sought to shift the discussion towards governance and public issues.

Reddy Highlights Farmer Support

While addressing the gathering, Reddy also highlighted the Congress government's welfare measures, particularly those aimed at farmers.

He said around ₹36,000 crore had been transferred to the bank accounts of approximately 70 lakh farmers under the Rythu Bharosa scheme.

The Chief Minister also said that despite the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon, Telangana had received adequate water in the Godavari and Krishna river systems.

Reddy further highlighted the government's food distribution programme, saying more than 2 lakh quintals of rice are being distributed every month to around 3.48 crore beneficiaries.

Harish Rao Rejects Allegations

Harish Rao strongly rejected the Chief Minister's allegations and accused Reddy of making false statements on Independence Day.

The BRS leader said he had been consistently raising issues concerning the state government, including alleged corruption, incomplete implementation of farmer loan waivers and shortages of fertilisers.

Rao argued that these issues, rather than any alleged ritual activity, were the reason for his criticism of the government.

He said he would continue raising the concerns of farmers, unemployed youth and students.

Defamation Case Threat

Harish Rao also referred to the possibility of legal action over the allegations made against him.

He has indicated that a defamation case could be filed against the Chief Minister in connection with the claims.

The exchange comes amid an increasingly confrontational political atmosphere in Telangana, with the Congress government and the BRS continuing to attack each other's record and political conduct.

Political Fight Intensifies

The latest dispute over alleged black magic has added an unusual dimension to the ongoing Congress-BRS confrontation.

While the Congress has used the allegations to accuse the opposition of attempting to undermine the government, the BRS has maintained that its focus remains on issues affecting farmers, students and young people.

Neither side has presented publicly verified evidence establishing the claims of black magic. The controversy is therefore expected to remain primarily a political dispute unless further evidence or legal proceedings emerge.

The controversy began when a journalist asked Reddy how farmers would cope if drought-like conditions persisted and irrigation water remained unavailable for crops. In response, Reddy turned his answer into a direct attack on the BRS leadership, invoking violent imagery about the two leaders and suggesting they bore responsibility for the state's troubles, accusing them of lying to the public. He went on to say the two needed corrective treatment and joked about sending experts to examine them, saying the government would cover the cost.

The underlying dispute centers on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. The BRS has argued that despite drought conditions, sufficient water is available and that the Congress government should release it from the Kannepalli pump house. The state government has countered that it is following recommendations from the National Dam Safety Authority, which has advised against holding water in the barrages over safety concerns. Reddy, defending his government's handling of the issue, said efforts to restore the project were already underway.

BRS MLA T Harish Rao objected strongly to the Chief Minister's language, demanding an unconditional apology. He told reporters he had simply asked the government to release water for farmers' fields, and that Reddy had responded by talking about spilling his blood instead. He questioned whether such language was appropriate from someone holding a constitutional post, and said he was prepared to give his own blood if that was truly the price of getting water to farmers.

BRS working president KTR fired back on X, calling the Chief Minister bloodthirsty and accusing him of having tormented Telangana for six decades. He said his party was willing to make any sacrifice for farmers and repeated the demand that the government release water to the fields. He argued that the BRS was the party that had fought for the state until suffering real losses in the process, and said they remained ready to keep making sacrifices — but that the government needed to address farmers' actual water needs rather than trading accusations.

Neither side has signalled any de-escalation, and with drought conditions persisting and the dam safety recommendations still in place, the underlying irrigation dispute remains unresolved even as the political fallout from Reddy's remarks continues to dominate the conversation.