Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has ordered a wide-ranging investigation into violence and alleged abuse directed at Assembly Speaker G Prasad Kumar, who belongs to the Dalit community. The unrest followed incidents on September 6 where Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLAs were accused of using derogatory language against the Speaker. The chief minister stated that cases would be registered under applicable laws, including the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act where warranted, and vowed action regardless of the political standing of those responsible.
On September 8, Congress supporters and Dalit organisations protested near the farmhouse of BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao. The chief minister alleged that BRS supporters carried out a “purification” ritual during this event, pointing to caste-based prejudice, and directly accused KCR of encouraging BRS legislators to target Dalit leaders and the Speaker. BRS leaders have pushed back against the government’s framing of events, with senior figures having previously faced detention amid related protests.
The investigation will examine the original remarks against the Speaker, subsequent clashes between BRS members and police, and the farmhouse demonstration and its aftermath. Congress leaders have demanded a formal apology from BRS to the Speaker, which the opposition party has resisted.