KTR detained after BRS black T-shirt protest outside Telangana Assembly

On Monday, Sept 7, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao (KTR), former minister T Harish Rao and several party legislators were detained outside the Telangana Assembly after they were stopped from entering the premises wearing black T-shirts carrying protest slogans. They were then taken and dropped off at Telangana Bhavan.

The BRS leaders were protesting against the Congress government as it completed 1,000 days in office, alleging that several electoral promises remained unfulfilled. The party had also planned to raise issues concerning farmers, Singareni workers, auto drivers, government employees and anganwadi workers during the Assembly session.

Tensions escalated at the Assembly gate after police objected to the slogans printed on the black T-shirts. Harish Rao removed his T-shirt but was still detained along with KTR and other leaders. KTR and former minister G Jagadish Reddy reportedly sustained minor injuries during the scuffle, while BRS women legislators also alleged that police used excessive force.

KTR questioned the decision to prevent BRS legislators from entering in black T-shirts, arguing that black clothing had previously been used as a form of protest in Parliament. Police, however, said the objection was to the slogans printed on the shirts and maintained that action was taken as per the Speaker’s instructions.