The Assembly invitation came with a dress code
Congress urged the BRS to attend the House, then its legislators were stopped at the gate in slogan-bearing black T-shirts. The explanation arrived in fine print.
The Assembly invitation came with conditions attached.
D. Sridhar Babu told BRS leaders to stop holding dharnas on the streets and come to the Assembly, where the Congress government would answer their questions. The BRS took him up on the invitation. K. T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao and other legislators arrived on September 7 wearing black T-shirts carrying the slogan: “Congress failed to deliver promises in 1000 Days.”
They were stopped near the Assembly entrance and several were detained or taken into custody before being shifted to Telangana Bhavan, according to multiple reports. Police officials reportedly said black clothing was not the issue; the slogans were. That distinction will presumably be entered into the minutes under “answers”. Saifabad police later reportedly registered cases against KTR, Harish Rao, Sudheer Reddy and others, alleging misbehaviour and abusive language. Those remain police allegations, with footage reportedly being examined.
BRS leaders also alleged that women legislators were manhandled. The government has not publicly answered those specific claims in the material reviewed. It has, however, demonstrated one thing clearly: the Opposition was invited into the House, provided it arrived without its message.