Telangana's Forests and Environment Minister, Konda Surekha, has vehemently condemned what she describes as a coordinated social media smear campaign orchestrated by leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). During a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on September 30, 2024, Ms. Surekha became emotional as she discussed the online abuse she faced following an incident involving BJP leader and Medak MP M. Raghunandan Rao.
The controversy began when Mr. Raghunandan Rao placed a garland of handwoven cotton around Ms. Surekhas neck at a public event, which subsequently triggered a series of derogatory posts on social media. Ms. Surekha criticized BRS supporters for using the incident to demean her, emphasizing that their commentary had blatantly disregarded her gender. She questioned whether BRS leaders would have reacted similarly if the target had been BRS MLC K. Kavitha, especially when she was in jail.
Accusations Against K.T. Rama Rao
Ms. Surekha also targeted BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, accusing him of being indifferent to womens issues. She warned that such behavior would no longer be tolerated and questioned whether K.T. Rama Rao would have accepted similar trolling if it were directed at his own sister. Additionally, she alleged that K.T. Rama Rao has a troubling pattern of exploiting female celebrities, even suggesting that he played a role in the breakup of actor Naga Chaitanya and actress Samantha.
The minister revealed that a formal complaint had been filed with the cybercrime authorities regarding the offensive posts and assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible. She also demanded an apology from BRS senior leader and Siddipet MLA Harish Rao, as the accused individual had been using Harish Raos photo as a display picture on social media platforms.
Allegations of Gender Bias and Smear Campaigns
Ms. Surekha further criticized the BRS leadership for its conduct since losing power in the state, accusing them of using money to fuel smear campaigns against women leaders. She highlighted the previous K. Chandrasekhar Rao-led government, claiming that women were marginalized within the party and attributing her exclusion from a ministerial post to gender bias.
The allegations have sparked a significant backlash, with several BRS leaders and supporters condemning Ms. Surekhas comments as inappropriate and disrespectful. BRS MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy criticized Ms. Surekha, stating that respect and dignity are values that should be upheld in public discourse.
K.T. Rama Rao has also responded to the allegations, denying any involvement in the personal lives of celebrities or in orchestrating smear campaigns against Ms. Surekha. The ongoing feud highlights the intense political tensions in Telangana and the increasing role of social media in political discourse.
For more information on the political landscape of Telangana and the roles of key figures like K.T. Rama Rao, see related articles and updates.
