BJP and Congress Workers Clash in Hyderabad; Police Detain Telangana BJP Chief

Hyderabad witnessed a confrontation between workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party on Wednesday near Exhibition Grounds Road, where both parties have their state offices. Police detained Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and several party workers as a precautionary measure while they were heading to Gandhi Bhavan, the Congress party headquarters, to protest against a demonstration led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The detained individuals were taken to Goshamahal Police Station. Shortly after, a group allegedly consisting of Congress activists attempted to enter the BJP state office premises. BJP workers resisted, leading to a physical altercation between supporters of both parties. The situation escalated, with reports of stone-pelting from both sides. A television cameraman and a few party workers sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment. Police intervened and restored order.

Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Ramchander Rao criticised the Congress party's protest at the Prime Minister's residence, describing it as setting a concerning precedent. He alleged that the Congress was attempting to create instability akin to situations in some neighbouring countries. He also claimed that the ongoing protests under the banner of what he called the 'Cockroach Party' had been taken over by anti-national elements, and that genuine students were not participating, but rather anti-social and ultra-left groups. He asserted that the BJP would continue opposing what he termed the Congress's divisive politics.

In response, several BJP leaders, including Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Legislature Party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy, and MPs D.K. Aruna and Eatala Rajender, condemned the detention of Mr. Ramchander Rao and the developments in Delhi. They stated that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was prepared for a parliamentary discussion on the NEET issue and urged the Congress to cooperate in ensuring the smooth functioning of the ongoing session.

The clash comes amid heightened political tension following protests in the national capital. Police have not officially commented on the details of the incident, and investigations are ongoing.