Hyderabad: The Telangana United Front (TUF) has criticized the late-night arrests of Telangana Kranti Dal leaders Dr. Prithviraj and Telangana Shyam, labeling the actions as unlawful and anti-democratic. Civil society leaders and activists issued a joint statement on Friday, accusing authorities of bypassing legal procedures to silence those advocating for Telangana’s rights and dignity.
TUF leaders challenged the state government’s dedication to democracy, questioning if the ruling party’s promises include suppressing supporters and advocates of Telangana. “Is this how those committed to safeguarding Telangana’s identity and dignity are rewarded?” they asked in their statement.
Concerns were raised about the arrests, where Dr. Prithviraj and Telangana Shyam were reportedly moved between different police stations. The leaders called this treatment degrading and unjust, especially given their history of peaceful activism and public service.
The statement received backing from lawyer Katta Bhagavanth Reddy, Vimalakka of TUF, TUF State Vice President Munnaram Nagaraju, and members from groups like the Telangana Farmers’ and Laborers’ Association, Arunodaya Cultural Association, PDSU, All India Federation of Trade Unions, and POW (Stree Vimukthi). They demanded the immediate release of the two leaders and urged the government to respect democratic principles.
