Hyderabad: Police detained several BRS leaders on Thursday morning ahead of the ‘Chalo Bus Bhavan’ protest in Hyderabad. The party planned the protest to demand the rollback of the recent RTC fare hike.
BRS leaders detained before the RTC fare hike protest
Former minister Harish Rao faced house arrest at his Kokapet residence as police blocked his movement. Officers surrounded the area with a heavy deployment. Rao had planned to board an RTC bus from Mehdipatnam Bus Stand at 8:45 a.m. and travel to Bus Bhavan, but the police stopped him from leaving.
Meanwhile, police tightened security outside BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao’s (KTR) home as well. Several BRS MLAs from Greater Hyderabad had decided to ride RTC buses from their constituencies to Bus Bhavan as part of the symbolic protest.
Party leaders said they would submit a petition to the TSRTC Managing Director seeking the immediate withdrawal of the fare hike. They accused the government of blocking peaceful democratic protests through excessive police action.
KTR condemns police over preventive action
KTR expressed strong criticism of the police on X (formerly Twitter).
“All I wanted to do is board an RTC bus peacefully, travel to the RTC MD’s office, and submit a letter demanding the rollback of the steep hike in bus ticket fares. Look at the number of police officers deployed outside my housing complex! All to prevent one person from boarding a bus?!”
He said the government should focus more on reducing Hyderabad’s rising crime rate instead of restricting peaceful protests. Moreover, he accused the police of acting under political pressure.
All I wanted to do is board an RTC bus peacefully, travel to RTC MD office & submit a letter demanding roll back of steep hike in Bus ticket fares
Look at the number of police officers deployed right now outside my housing complex!!
All to prevent one person from boarding a Bus… pic.twitter.com/x2lRruoZ4T
— KTR (@KTRBRS) October 9, 2025