BJP candidate for Hyderabad Madhavi Latha has been booked for hurting religious sentiments after she was caught on camera gesturing 'shooting an arrow' at a place of worship during her election campaign.
Latha, who faces AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, was seen shooting an imaginary arrow in the direction of a mosque. The video went viral on social media, following which a resident of Hyderabad lodged a complaint against her on Sunday.
According to the complainant, Madhavi Latha made a gesture of drawing an arrow and shooting it at the place of worship during a Ram Navami procession on April 17, hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.
The case was registered on April 20 under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code, they said. The matter has also been taken to the Election Commission.
Her gesture drew flak from Owaisi too, who said the arrow was targeting the peace and tranquillity of the city. Addressing his first public meeting after filing his nomination from the Hyderabad constituency, Asaduddin 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 will you get up," Asaduddin 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.
However, after the clip went viral, Madhavi Latha said in a post on X that it had come to her notice that an incomplete video of her was being circulated to create negativity. "I would like to clarify that it's an incomplete video and even because of such video if anyone's sentiments are hurt then I would like to apologise as I respect all individuals," she had said.
#WATCH | Hyderabad: BJP candidate from Hyderabad, Madhavi Latha says,, "On the occasion of Ram Navami...for a dhanush that didn't exist, for the teer (arrow) that didn't exist, and for the reaction of the teer coming out which wasn't there, they made a false video of mine...They… pic.twitter.com/9ymou4mjOk
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2024
She further clarified her stance, adding that the complaint filed against her was ridiculous. "This is ridiculous. If I were to be against Muslims then why would I participate in Hazrat Ali Saab ka Juloos that took place on Ramzan. I have distributed food to many people with my own hands," she told ANI.
"On the occasion of Ram Navami...for a Dhanush that didn't exist, for the Teer (arrow) that didn't exist, and for the reaction of the teer coming out that wasn't there, they made a false video of mine...They have made an allegation and registered an FIR..."
To the allegations that her gesture was provocative to the Muslims, she said the mosque was no where in the frame when her gesture was caught on camera. "One fellow said that I have provoked the Muslims. It was a festival moment. You cross a particular road, and in my mobile phone and other mobiles where this act was captured, the mosque wasn't there in the frame," the BJP candidate said.
