Harish Rao placed under house arrest ahead of Warangal visit, BRS backs student protest

The BRS on Thursday backed protesting polytechnic students in Warangal and families affected by restrictions under the 22A prohibited properties list, intensifying its criticism of the Telangana government.

BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T Harish Rao was placed under house arrest at his Kokapet residence in Hyderabad when he was preparing to travel to Warangal to meet students of Government Polytechnic College.

Police informed Harish Rao that he did not have permission to participate in the protest. BRS leaders and supporters who gathered at his residence objected to the move, leading to heated exchanges.

Harish Rao later left for Warangal and was expected to meet the students, who are protesting against GO 97 and demanding that the proposed merger of polytechnic education with Young India Skill University be withdrawn.

Police deployed additional personnel around the Government Polytechnic College and checked students entering the campus. Student leaders from Warangal and Hanamkonda were also detained, while BRS leaders alleged that police restricted the movement of students.

Former government Chief Whip Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar was placed under house arrest while preparing to meet the protesting students. BRS leader Anugula Rakesh Reddy, who reached the college, was stopped by police and asked to leave.

The developments came a day after Harish Rao accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of running a “land-centric” government while addressing families affected by 22A restrictions in KPHB Colony.

Harish Rao alleged that the government was selling public land while ordinary landowners were facing restrictions on properties they had purchased. He claimed that government land worth around Rs 30,000 crore had been sold in a short period.

He also alleged that Housing Board and TGIIC properties were being put up for sale and cited the proposed sale of a park site in Hyder Nagar as an example.

“Government land is an asset for future generations and not for sale,” Harish Rao said.

He further alleged that assigned lands given to Dalits, tribals and BCs were being targeted and that properties belonging to ordinary families were being placed under the 22A list.

Harish Rao assured affected families that the BRS would continue to raise their concerns and oppose what the party described as arbitrary government action.

The BRS has also extended its support to the students opposing GO 97, with the party leaders seeking to take up the issue both inside and outside the Assembly.