BRS silence over MLC Mallanna's remarks against Kavitha stirs political debate in T'gana

Hyderabad, Jul 14 (PTI) The conspicuous silence of BRS party over the alleged remarks made by suspended Congress MLC Teenmaar Mallanna against K Kavitha, daughter of former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and the ruling Congress' condemnation of the comments have sparked discussion in Telangana's political circles.

Tension escalated on Sunday when Mallanna’s Personal Security Officer (PSO) fired in the air to disperse a group of protesters affiliated to Telangana Jagruthi headed by MLC Kavitha, who “attacked” his office at Medipally here.

The Telangana Jagruthi cadre allegedly attacked Mallanna’s office in protest against certain “derogatory” remarks made against her, police said.

“You should ask those people ( BRS). How can you ask me? It is up to them to react or not,” Kavitha told PTI on Monday in response to a question as to why her party has not officially reacted to Mallanna's comments.

Mallanna’s remarks drew sharp criticism from several quarters including BRS’ arch rival ruling Congress party.

Condemning Mallanna's comments against BRS leader Kavitha, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud in a statement on Sunday said respecting women is part of Indian tradition.

The Congress leader, however, called the alleged attack on Mallanna’s office "unlawful" and said everyone must act within the framework of the law.

The TPCC chief said the complaints regarding the attack on Mallanna’s office and the firing by the gunman are being investigated as per legal procedures.

Transport Minister Ponnal Prabhakar in a press conference condemned the comments saying the Congress Party has a lot of respect for women.

Those comments are condemnable in a democracy, he further said adding that at the same time attacks are also not desirable.

Meanwhile, a senior BRS leader admitted that there are differences between the senior leadership of the party and Kavitha over certain issues.

“Perhaps the party feels that there is no need to react to the comments of Mallanna," he said.

Signs of internal discord within BRS came to the fore a couple of months ago when BRS MLC K Kavitha took exception to the leak of the letter she wrote to her father and party president K Chandrasekhar Rao.

She also alleged that conspiracies were brewing in the party and added "KCR is like a god who is surrounded by some devils." Since then she has been undertaking various agitational programmes on issues using her brainchild organisation Telangana Jagruthi. PTI GDK ROH