BJP MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy Seeks ‘Z’ Category Or Equivalent Security

Ballari : Gangavathi BJP MLA and former minister Gali Janardhan Reddy has written to Union Home Minister and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking enhanced security, alleging a serious threat to his life following a violent incident outside his residence in Ballari on January 1.

In his letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Reddy said the State had failed to protect his life, compelling him to seek protection from Central forces. In a separate letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, he said the threat to his life was extreme and sought immediate ‘Z’ category or equivalent high-level police protection for himself and his family.

Reddy told the Home Minister that supporters and “henchmen” of Ballari Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy attempted to attack him with deadly weapons, including firearms and acid bottles, leading to a tense situation that spiralled out of control.

According to Reddy, the violence culminated in firing allegedly by the gunmen of the Ballari MLA, resulting in the death of a person identified as Rajashekhar due to a bullet injury, while several others sustained injuries in the melee.

“The above is the latest incident and I have high threat perception against my life. The state is being ruled by the Congress party, the law and order is in their control and is in the worst condition, the state police are constrained to follow the instructions of their political bosses which witnessed the inaction on the part of state police in the protection of my life. Therefore, I request you to kindly provide the security to my life through Central Forces at the earliest,” he stated.

Citing Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, Reddy said he had lost confidence in the State’s ability to protect him.

Reddy, a former Tourism Minister and ex-BJP district president of Ballari, said he was being targeted due to his renewed political activity and growing public outreach for the BJP ahead of upcoming political developments in the State. He claimed that his increasing visibility and the BJP’s resurgence had unsettled the ruling Congress leadership, particularly in Ballari.

In separate but identical letters addressed to the Chief Minister, Home Minister G Parameshwara and Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG-IGP), Reddy alleged that the January 1 incident was a premeditated assassination attempt involving firearms and petrol bombs, rather than a political clash. He claimed the violence unfolded in multiple stages over several hours, pointing to what he described as a serious failure of the State’s law enforcement machinery.

Reddy demanded immediate ‘Z’ category or equivalent high-level police protection for himself and his family, sought the registration of murder cases and the arrest of Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy, Satish Reddy and their associates, and called for strict action against police officers accused of dereliction of duty and negligence.

Reddy said the State government would be directly responsible if any harm was caused to him or his family due to failure to provide adequate security.