Protest by govt job aspirants: MoS Bandi Sanjay taken into custody by Telangana police

Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar, minister of state for home, was taken into custody by police today following a dramatic protest in support of aspirants of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) Group 1 services. The minister had organized a dharna and 'Chalo Secretariat' rally in Hyderabad, demanding the postponement of the upcoming Group 1 Mains exam.

The protest, centered at Ashok Nagar, a hub for civil services coaching institutions, saw Kumar joining aspirants in their calls for exam rescheduling. Amid chants against the state government, Kumar engaged with the aspirants directly, listening to their grievances regarding the exam schedule and related Government Orders (GOs).

Accompanied by a large crowd of supporters, the minister attempted to march towards the chief minister's office to discuss the issue with chief minister A Revanth Reddy. However, police intervention halted their progress, prompting Kumar to address the gathering from atop a vehicle before being taken into custody.

Following his initial detention, Kumar later staged a dharna near the Ambedkar statue near the Secretariat, continuing to advocate for the aspirants' demands despite the legal clearance given by the High Court for conducting the exams.

In response to the escalating protests, state director general of police Jitender urged aspirants to express their concerns peacefully without causing public inconvenience. He emphasized that while grievances can be aired democratically, disruptions to public order must be avoided.

The protests, which have intensified over the past week, include previous incidents where police resorted to caning aspirants who were adamant about postponing the Mains exam scheduled from October 21 to 27.

The situation remains tense as both sides stand firm on their positions regarding the conduct of the TSPSC Group 1 Mains exam amidst growing public and political scrutiny.

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