After Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad sparked national outrage after hit an Air India staffer with slippers and defended his action, another instance of VVIP racism has emerged. Former Telangana MP and AICC secretary V Hanumantha Rao was captured on camera shouting castiest of abuses at a police official in the Telangana State Assembly premises on Thursday. The former Rajya Sabha member was allegedly angry because the cop stopped him from entering the “Media Point” in the Assembly. The official identified as P.Sudhakar was on a bandobast duty. He told Rao only MLAs and MLCs were allowed to speak to the media in the designated area.
The video shows the inspector trying to stop Rao by informing him that he had instructions from his seniors not to allow any former MLA, MLC or MPs to the media point.
“Who are you to stop me? You have no right to stop. I am AICC secretary. This is not dictatorship. Tell your CM (Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao), I can go and sit in front of his house,” Rao is seen saying in the video.
“You people have made Dharna Chowk out of bounds for protesters and now I am being banned from entry into the Media Point. Are we living in a democracy or a dictatorship? Who are you to stop me? I am secretary of the All India Congress Committee and I will definitely address reporters,” the former MP said.
The police officer pleaded that he was only informing the former MP about the rules and was not curbing his movement.
An infuriated Rao continued to vent his anger and proceeded to the media point. A criminal case was lodged against the politician. Meanwhile, Rao has been booked under IPC Sections 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Agency inputs
