Hyderabad resident files complaint against BJP leader Madhavi Latha over controversial "Arrow" gesture

Apr 21, 2024

Hyderabad (Telangana) [Inida], April 21 : A resident of First Lancer, Hyderabad, lodged a complaint on Sunday against Kompella Madhavi Latha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, following a controversy involving a video that appears to depict her gesturing as if shooting an arrow towards a mosque.
The complainant was identified as Shaik Imran.
Imran has filed his complaint with the Begum Bazar Police Station and has also taken the matter to the Election Commission.
The BJP candidate from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, Kompella Madhavi Latha, has courted controversy after a video of her gesturing to shoot an arrow, purportedly in the direction of a mosque, came to light.
During the festivities, the mosque had been covered in white cloth to avoid communal tensions.
The BJP candidate later took to X to issue an explanation.
"It has come to my notice that a video of mine is being circulated in the media to create negativity. I would like to clarify that this is an incomplete video and if anyone's feelings are hurt due to such a video, I would like to apologise," Latha said on April 19.
Earlier, on Friday AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi lashed out at her, saying that the arrow was targeting the peace and tranquillity of the city.
Addressing his first public meeting after filing his nomination from the Hyderabad constituency, Owaisi alleged that the purported gesture by Madhavi Latha was intended to weaken the peace among Hindus and Muslims in the city.
"You saw that one candidate of the BJP is gesturing to shoot an arrow in the direction of a mosque. If you even feel a little bit of pain, you should vote not for the sake of the party but for that 'ibadatgah' (prayer house). If you will keep sleeping even now, when you will get up," Owaisi said.
"That imaginary arrow was not pointed at any mosque but against the peace and tranquillity of Hyderabad. It showed their (BJP) intention of destroying the peace of Hyderabad. It was done to weaken the peace among Hindus and Muslims. You can have differences with me, but peace in the city is for everyone," he added.