Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday kicked off its protest against the proposed 12 per cent reservation to the backward sections of Muslim minority with a call for “Chalo Assembly” but the alert police foiled the attempt of the party workers to march towards the State legislature Assembly.
Dozens of party workers and leaders including couple of legislators were taken into custody when they tried to break the cordon and move towards the Assembly building where the Budget Session was in progress.
One group shouting slogans against the reservations to Muslims was taken into custody at Basheerbagh Crossed Road while another was stopped at Nampally near the BJP State office.
Tension prevailed when the BJP MlA NVS Prabhakar resisted his arrest and the police forcibly lifted him into the van. “This is an unconstitutional proposal,” he said.
Another MlA Chintala Ramchandra Reddy who was also taken into custody said that if the Government did not withdraw the proposal to grant 12 per cent quota to Muslims, his party would intensify its agitation. State BJP spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao was also among those taken into custody.
The party also raised the issue in the Assembly. Five party MlAs including the floor leader G Kishan Reddy and the State party president K lakshman sporting black bandanas disrupted the proceedings to strongly oppose the proposed 12 per cent quota. When all the pleas of the Speaker to restore order in the House failed, the five members were suspended for a week.
Meanwhile, BJP national general secretary Murlidhar Rao condemned the State Government over the arrest of the BJP leaders and alleged that it was trying to stifle the voices of protest.
He told mediapersons in New Delhi that the BJP was opposed to the religion based reservation. “We are ready to fight against it to any extent,” he said. He warned the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao against the vote bank politics.
Telangana Assembly speaker S Madhusudhana Chary announced the suspension of the five BJP MlAs after they rushed into the well of the House shouting slogans and obstructing the proceedings.
After the BJP members were removed from the House, the members of main Opposition Congress also walked out of the House protesting against the “undemocratic” action against the opposition members.
Talking to the media outside the Assembly K lakshman said the BJP would continue its opposition to the State Government’s plans on Muslim reservation as the party had a clear policy of opposing religion based reservations.