Hyderabad: Sept 8, BRS general secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar has lodged a complaint with the Banjara Hills police seeking criminal action against Shadnagar Congress MLA Veerlapalli Shankar over his alleged remarks concerning former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao.

Praveen Kumar demanded an apology from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and urged the police to register an FIR against Shankar under Sections 351, 351(3), 196(1) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The BRS leader condemned the MLA’s reported remarks that Congress leaders wanted Chandrashekhar Rao to die and were planning to organise a rally with 1,000 drums to perform “Chavu Dappu”, traditional funeral drumbeats, if the former Chief Minister died.

Addressing mediapersons later at Telangana Bhavan, Praveen Kumar alleged that the remarks were part of a broader pattern of political attacks against the BRS chief. He accused the Revanth Reddy government of encouraging Congress leaders to use such language against the Opposition.

He further alleged that Congress leaders and MLAs were allowed to travel to Chandrashekhar Rao’s Erravelli residence under police escort, while BRS leaders heading there were stopped and arrested. Calling the developments a “conspiracy” against the BRS chief, he demanded immediate action against Shankar.

Praveen Kumar also questioned the arrests of BRS MLCs Thatha Madhu and Naveen Kumar. He said Madhu had clarified his remarks concerning the Assembly Speaker, withdrawn them and expressed regret, yet cases were still registered against the legislators.

The former IPS officer also alleged that BRS women MLAs were subjected to inappropriate treatment during the confrontation outside the Assembly. He questioned the cases filed against them and accused the ruling party of using police action to suppress the Opposition.

He further alleged that Congress leaders had repeatedly referred to the Speaker as a Dalit in a manner he considered disrespectful, while claiming that BRS legislators had treated the Speaker with respect.

Praveen Kumar also questioned the action taken against BRS legislators for wearing T-shirts carrying protest messages. He compared the incident with protest messages displayed by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Parliament and asked why similar standards were not applied.

The BRS general secretary said his party would continue to oppose the government on public issues and accused the Congress government of using police cases and official machinery to silence the Opposition.