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.

 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.