Continued from P1

The Chief Minister said the investigation would cover the sequence of events beginning with a meeting held at the farmhouse on September 6, followed by the verbal attack on the Speaker and the reported ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual at Erravalli. The Chief Minister announced that Hyderabad Joint Commissioner Vijay Kumar will probe the alleged incidents of untouchability. “We will legally punish everyone who insulted Dalits. We will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the series of events, starting from the meeting held at the farmhouse,” Revanth Reddy said. Revanth Reddy said Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, who belongs to the Dalit community, was subjected to objectionable verbal abuse. He questioned how anyone could insult a mother, irrespective of political differences, and asserted that the government would not tolerate caste discrimination or oppression. He said political parties had advised those responsible to apologise to the Speaker and correct their remarks. According to the Chief Minister, the alleged remarks hurt the sentiments of the Dalit community, prompting members to stage a protest by beating dappus (traditional drums).

Revanth Reddy said the protesters had gone to the site to register their opposition and demand an apology and claimed they neither attacked nor verbally abused anyone.

The Chief Minister alleged that BRS chief and former chief minister KCR, instead of apologising, ordered another act, referring to the shuddhikaran ritual at the farmhouse. He also referred to a social media post by BRS leader Sandhya Rao, who allegedly stated that the ritual was conducted at KCR’s behest. “It is not the ground that needs purification; the deep-seated malice and prejudice in their minds need to be cleansed,” Revanth Reddy said, stressing the need to eradicate caste-based prejudice and untouchability.

Revanth Reddy alleged that KCR had summoned BRS MLAs and MLCs to his Erravalli farmhouse ahead of the Assembly session and claimed that the meeting was part of a plan to obstruct the proceedings. He said the Assembly had been convened to discuss public issues, including matters concerning ‘22A’ lands, and alleged that the opposition sought to prevent such discussions because of their potential political impact. The Chief Minister warned that those responsible for the alleged conspiracy would face action. “Courts may grant bail, but society will not,” he remarked. The Chief Minister ordered an inquiry also into the harassment of women during a protest near the Assembly. Details of alleged attacks on personnel performing their duties would also be collected, he said. Revanth Reddy said the investigation would cover both those who allegedly issued instructions and those who carried them out. Criminal cases would be registered against those found responsible and strict action would follow, he said.