An FIR has been registered against Kompella Madhavi Latha, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) candidate for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, following the circulation of a video on social media depicting her gesturing as if aiming an imaginary arrow at a mosque during a Ram Navami procession.
The video, which went viral last week, captured Madhavi Latha extending her arms in a posture resembling that of drawing an arrow and aiming it towards a mosque, which was draped in white cloth.
The complaint against Latha was lodged at the Begumbazar Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 295A, which pertains to intentionally causing hurt or insult to the religious sentiments of any community through word, gesture, symbol, or image representation.
The FIR detailed the allegation that Madhavi Latha had been making derogatory remarks against the Muslim community ever since her nomination as the BJP's candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. It specifically cited the incident on April 17, 2024, during the Shri Ram Navami Shobhayatra procession, where she allegedly mimicked drawing an arrow and aiming it at the mosque, expressing jubilation afterward. The complaint emphasized the hurt and anguish caused to the Muslim community by her actions.
The circulation of the video ignited a significant political controversy, with Hyderabad Member of Parliament and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi accusing the BJP of disturbing the peace of the city through provocative actions. Owaisi urged the youth of Hyderabad to scrutinize the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and to vote accordingly, condemning their alleged attempts to disrupt the city's harmony.
In response to the controversy, Madhavi Latha issued a clarification, asserting that the circulated video was edited and incomplete. She expressed regret if anyone's sentiments were hurt by the video and apologized, reaffirming her respect for all individuals.
