Telangana BJP criticises cops over meet label

Hyderabad: Union minister of culture G. Kishan Reddy, whose ministry is organising the Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at the Parade Ground on Sunday, demanded an apology from the Hyderabad city police for its “deliberate and ill-intentioned move” for calling the occasion a BJP meeting.

Referring to a question on a traffic advisory for Sunday morning around Parade Ground issued by the traffic police, Kishan Reddy said: “I absolutely condemn the police attitude. This is a Government of India programme. Does anyone see a BJP flag or a BJP symbol here at the venue? Everyone knows that this is an official event.”

The Union minister, speaking to reporters at Parade Ground after inspecting the preparations, said: “I demand an apology from the Hyderabad city police. The Government of India will take up this matter seriously and will take further action.”

The traffic wing of the Hyderabad police, in an advisory issued on Saturday afternoon by ACP G. Sudheer Babu, had stated Shah will be visiting the Parade Ground on Sunday to attend BJP meeting. Important leaders and activists of BJP will visit Secunderabad Parade Grounds, and provided details of restrictions and diversions of traffic around the Parade Ground for the duration of the event on Sunday morning.

“The Hyderabad city police circular,” Kishan Reddy said, “is a deliberate, fully irresponsible action. Despite this being an official programme, the city police says it is a party programme.”

The “absolutely Government of India event,” he said, “commemorates the liberation of Hyderabad, will pay respect to martyrs of the liberation movement.”