BRS Leaders Arrested at Gandhi Hospital

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Gandhi Hospital in Secunderabad on Monday as police arrested members of the Opposition BRS party fact-finding committee and BRS MLAs, who had gone to study the current situation at the hospital.

There was a scuffle between the police and the BRS leaders. Former deputy chief minister Rajaiah, former MLA Metuku Anand, MLAs Dr Sanjay and Maganti Gopinath were taken into custody and taken to the police station. The BRS party activists tried to stop the police vehicles. The BRS party had appointed a fact-finding committee headed by Rajaiah to study the deteriorating condition of the government hospitals in the State, including Gandhi hospital.

From Monday onwards, a three-member committee of expert doctors started their field inspection. As part of this, Gandhi Hospital has to be inspected by them. However, the State government authorities blocked the committee's visit. Former MLA Metuku Anand and MLA Sanjay, who were members of the committee, including Rajaiah, were arrested by the police. On the other hand, Janagama BRS MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy was also arrested by the police. Heavy police force was deployed to prevent him from coming out of his residence in Jubilee Hills.

The committee members questioned as to why the government was afraid of their visit to Gandhi Hospital as expert doctors to give suggestions to the government to provide better services to the people and not for politics. “Will the State government hide the matter of maternal and child deaths that our party has mentioned at Gandhi Hospital? Or are they afraid that their administration's failure will come out in the open,” the MLAs asked.

KTR condemns arrests

Meanwhile, BRS party working president KT Rama Rao has responded on the incident on his X handle. “Are you going to be arrested if you visit hospitals? Why are you so afraid,” KTR asked. He said he was strongly condemning the arrest of the party MLAs and senior leaders who tried to understand the problems of the people. He demanded the immediate release of those arrested. He urged the government not to create hurdles for them in going into the hospitals. He said their party leaders, who are doctors themselves, would observe the government hospitals for the welfare of the people, irrespective of politics. KTR said even if the State government indulges in such cowardly acts to cover up its mistakes, he would point out the shortcomings in the public health system.