Hyderabad, 14 November (H.S.): Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao was placed under house arrest in Hyderabad on Saturday, with police personnel restricting his movement and preventing him from attending party programmes during the Bharat Summit.

Rao criticised the Congress government over the action, accusing it of suppressing dissent while projecting itself as a defender of democracy and freedom of expression at the summit. In a post on X, he said he had been placed under house arrest repeatedly and questioned the government's approach towards Opposition leaders.

He alleged that while the Congress was discussing democratic values at the Bharat Summit, BJP leaders and party workers were being prevented from participating in political activities. He described the event as an Anti Bharat Summit and criticised the Congress for organising it.

Rao also questioned the State government's expenditure on the summit, alleging that taxpayers' money was being spent on the event even as the government cited financial constraints in fulfilling electoral promises and implementing welfare schemes.

Targeting Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, he said the financial burden of the event would fall on Telangana and its taxpayers. He also alleged that Rahul Gandhi was surrounded by radical Left and Maoist elements.

The BJP State president described the summit as an attempt to relaunch Rahul Gandhi and warned that his party would organise protests against the government's actions.

The police did not provide a reason for the house arrest in the material available for this report.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar