Hyderabad, April 19: BJP candidate for Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency’s provocative gesture towards a mosque during Rama Navami procession has evoked strong condemnation from Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who alleged that the BJP is trying to destroy the peace in Hyderabad and Telangana.
A video of Madhavi Latha went viral on social media on Thursday, in which she is seen pretending to shoot an arrow at a mosque.
She participated in the procession called Shoba Yatra along with the BJP MLA D. Raja Singh, who is notorious for hate speeches.
Madhavi Latha, who is known for her hardline Hindutva approach, is seen symbolically directing her arrow towards Siddi Ambar Bazar during the procession.
Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the silence of the police and the Election Commission over the BJP candidate’s provocative act.
The Hyderabad MP wanted to know what the Police Commissioner, Election Commission, Chief Electoral Officer and District Election Officer were doing.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president reacted strongly when media persons sought to know his reaction to a video showing Madhavi Latha pretending to shoot an arrow at a mosque during Shoba Yatra.
“Why don’t you ask the Election Commission, CEO and the Police Commissioner? Am I the Police Commissioner of Hyderabad,” he told media persons.
“Can’t the Election Commission see this? If I had done the same, there would have been suo moto action,” said Owaisi.
The MP said the BJP leaders are calling Muslims terrorists and abusing them. “They are asking Muslim sisters to throw out their Hijab,” he said.
He also slammed BJP MLA Raja Singh for using abusive words in his speech during the procession.
“The people of Telangana and Hyderabad are watching their real face and their language and how they want to destroy the peace of Hyderabad,” he said.
He wanted to know why no television channel is showing what the BJP leaders are doing to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in Hyderabad. “Is this the Viksit Bharat?” he asked and exuded confidence that people of Telangana will vote against BJP which is a threat for peace.
The BJP candidate’s video evoked strong reaction from many Muslims and secular-minded non- Muslims. They demanded action against her for this provocation.
“Probably the most cringe candidate from Telangana this election season. While I am always thrilled about more women entering politics, I think the state will be better off without someone like her. Everything about her feels extremely fake! Didn’t hear one sensible word from her so far,” wrote Revathi, a journalist, on social media platform ‘X’.
Meanwhile, Madhavi Latha has clarified that the video being circulated on social media is incomplete. She wrote on ‘X’ that if anyone’s sentiments are hurt because of the video, she would like to apologise.