Tension gripped Siddipet, Telangana, late Friday night after a violent clash between Congress and Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS) workers led to the vandalization of BRS legislator T Harish Rao’s office. The confrontation began when Congress activists erected banners demanding the resignation of Siddipet MLA Harish Rao. The situation escalated rapidly when BRS workers arrived to remove the banners, resulting in a heated exchange between the two groups.
The altercation intensified near the MLA’s camp office, where Congress activists were staging a protest. According to Harish Rao, Congress workers vandalized his office during the chaotic scene. Videos shared by the MLA on social media showed individuals, allegedly Congress workers, destroying a flex board at his office and breaking locks. Rao condemned the incident, describing it as not only undemocratic but also deeply concerning.
Rao took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage, stating, “Breaking locks and vandalizing property in such a manner is not only undemocratic but also raises serious concerns.” He further criticized the police for their lack of intervention, suggesting that they appeared to protect the perpetrators rather than preventing the attack. Rao questioned the safety of citizens, emphasizing that if an MLA’s residence could be targeted so brazenly, ordinary people could not feel secure.
The incident drew a sharp response from BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR), who slammed the Congress party for inciting violence. KTR questioned whether this was the “Mohabbat Ki Dukan” (shop of love) that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi frequently speaks about, condemning the attack as a cowardly act. “On one hand, Rahul Gandhi talks about ‘Mohabbat Ka Dukan’ (shop of love), but his party is inciting violence under the guise of ‘Nafrat Ka Dukan’ (shop of hatred) in Telangana,” KTR remarked. He also questioned Gandhi’s commitment to protecting constitutional values, given the actions of his party members.
The situation was brought under control only after police arrived at the scene and detained members from both parties. The clash in Siddipet highlights the growing tensions between Congress and BRS in Telangana, as the two parties face off in an increasingly charged political environment. The incident has raised serious concerns about the conduct of political parties and the ability of law enforcement to maintain order in the state.
