Hyderabad: A circular issued by the Hyderabad city police (special branch) has left city MPs, MLAs and MLCs wondering if the government is keeping tabs on them.
The circular asked the assistant commissioners to identify public issues likely to be raised by elected representatives and file a report by June 28. It comes in the backdrop of Hyderabad district in-charge minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav’s proposed meeting with elected representatives on July 2 to discuss development activities.
The meeting was subsequently postponed.
The Special Branch keeps track of political developments in the ruling and Opposition parties, but not on public issues which the elected representatives are likely to raise at various forums. As the circular aims to identify the public issues, the elected MLAs, MLCs, and MPs in their respective constituencies, it is worrying them because it implies that the government is keeping an eye on their activities.
Mr Yadav had sent a text message to all MPs, MLAs and MLCs under the GHMC limits to attend the meeting on July 2 at Tourism Plaza to share their views and suggestions on the city’s development. However, on Monday night, the minister sent another message stating that the meeting was postponed due to the weather.
Almost a year ago also, the city in-charge minister had proposed a similar meeting but it was also postponed at the last minute for unknown reasons.
The TRS government has not constituted the District Development Review Committees (DDRC) in any of the district in the state since coming to power, despite an assurance in this regard made by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
BJP MLC N. Ramachandra Rao said, “It is unfortunate that there is no forum for elected representatives to raise issues about implementation of government schemes. The DDRC is supposed to be the forum to discuss these matters.” He said only one meeting was held in 2016 by then municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao on city issues.
Stating that none of the personnel from the Special Branch personnel approached him to find out the public issues, Mr Ramachandra Rao said he did not understand why the police sought such information and if it was just a ruse to keep a tabs on elected representatives.
MIM legislator from Nampally, Mr Meraj Hussain, wondered why they would disclose any public issues prior to doing it before any of the agencies of the government and asked why the city police had issued such a circular.
Mr Syed Amin Jafri, MIM MLC, said the state government has to set up the forum either in the form of the DDRC or the Planning Committee so that the elected representatives can have periodical review of development programmes.
