Party slams Congress “drama,” dares Rahul Gandhi to debate NEET issue in Parliament
Telangana BJP escalated its confrontation with the ruling Congress government on Tuesday after state party president N. Ramchander Rao and a group of party workers were detained by police while leading a rally toward Gandhi Bhavan, prompting a chorus of condemnation from the party’s top leadership.
Rao was heading a march intended to besiege the Congress headquarters in protest against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in Delhi a day earlier. Police intercepted the rally and took Rao into custody, later moving him to Goshamahal Police Station — a move that triggered tense scenes and slogan-shouting among BJP workers outside.
State BJP chief Ramchander Rao accused the Congress of “setting a dangerous precedent” by staging protests near the PM’s residence, alleging the party was attempting to manufacture unrest reminiscent of unrest in neighbouring countries.
The party’s national leadership quickly joined in. BJP national vice-president and MP D.K. Aruna called Rao’s detention an “illegal arrest,” alleging it was proof of the Congress government’s “authoritarian attitude” and accusing it of misusing the police to suppress dissent. She pointed out that the NDA government had already signalled it was open to a parliamentary debate on the NEET paper leak issue, arguing Congress was avoiding the debate for political reasons.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar and MPs Eatala Rajender and Godam Nagesh echoed the criticism, with Rajender arguing that Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, had a duty to raise the issue on the floor of Parliament rather than “sitting on the roads.” Nagesh went further, calling the Congress-led protests nationwide an attempt to “cover up their own political downfall.”
State spokesperson N.V. Subhash was the most pointed, alleging that “democracy [was] murdered under the demonic rule of the Congress party” and accusing the state government of using police “like their personal army” against opposition leaders. MLA Palvai Harish Babu added his voice, calling the police action on Rao an infringement of constitutional rights.
The BJP’s core message was consistent across leaders: that Congress should stop what they termed “street dramas” and instead engage in a parliamentary debate on the NEET issue, which the party said the Centre has repeatedly offered to hold.
This report reflects statements issued by BJP leaders following the detention of Ramchander Rao. Congress and the Telangana government have not yet responded to these specific allegations of police overreach in this incident.
