Don’t test BJP patience, Bandi warns cops

Hyderabad: BJP state unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Monday slammed the Telangana police, warning it in no uncertain terms not to test the patience of BJP workers by allowing attacks on them by ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leaders and workers. Following the attack on BJP workers by TRS cadres at Devaruppala in Jangaon district, a furious Sanjay castigated the Warangal commissioner of police (CP) in his speech, and then called Director General of Police (DGP) M. Mahendar Reddy on phone to lodge a complaint.

Sanjay told the DGP that the CP did not do anything to prevent the attack despite being informed three days ago of possible disruption of the Praja Sangrama Yatra by TRS workers. “Our workers’ heads were broken in the attack. What is your CP doing?” Sanjay asked. Asking the DGP if the salaries for the CP and other police officials were coming from ‘KCR’s pockets, or from Pragathi Bhavan,’ Sanjay said the BJP had been peacefully conducting the padayatra despite repeated provocations.

Declaring that a line needed to be drawn when the BJP workers were beaten up and their heads cracked open by TRS workers, Sanjay said, “We too want law and order to be in control. Your officials are undermining law and order, working like agents of the Chief Minister. This government will be in power for the next six months or a year. You think we are scared of the police? If no action is taken in the next 10 minutes, I will bring my two injured karyakartas to your office, ask the CM to come, and I will show him."

Prior to his call to the DGP, addressing the crowd after peace returned at the public meeting, Sanjay said the Warangal CP, if he could not do his job, should either sit at home, or go somewhere else with his family. "We informed him about possible attacks three days ago. The CP did not do anything. He is a waste. If they can do dadagiri, we can too. But we are on a peaceful programme and will not be deterred by such attacks,” Sanjay said.