The "house arrest" was illegal as it suppresses the democratic right to protest, Rao said. Screengrab: @N_RamchanderRao
Telangana BJP chief claims house arrest ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit to Hyderabad
Rao called the two-day Bharat Summit an 'Anti-Bharat Summit' and accused the Congress government of misusing public funds to promote Rahul Gandhi's political image
Hyderabad, Nov 14 (PTI) Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao on Saturday claimed that he and other party leaders were put "under house arrest" to prevent them from undertaking peaceful protests against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to the city.
The "house arrest" was illegal as it suppresses the democratic right to protest, Rao said in a statement.
He sought to protest against the Congress government for allegedly deceiving people without implementing its poll promises and against the 'Bharat Summit' being hosted by the state government in the city.
"Congress always sermonizes on democracy and Constitution. But, Congress is openly crushing democracy and the spirit of Constitution by putting opposition leaders under house arrest in Congress-ruled Telangana," he said.
He also termed the 2-day Bharat Summit as "Anti-Bharat Summit."
Under the guise of the summit, Congress was bringing "anti-national forces" and the BJP is opposing it, he added.
Congress is wasting hard-earned tax-payers money in Telangana and is seeking to re-launch Rahul Gandhi by organising the Bharat Summit in the city, he alleged.
Telangana BJP's chief spokesperson N V Subhash demanded that government end Rao's house arrest and also release the BJP and BJYM activists who have been "illegally detained".
There was no immediate response from the police or the state government over Rao's house arrest claim.
Rahul Gandhi was in the city to address the Bharat Summit, as well as attend a gig workers rally. PTI