Hyderabad: Former minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) has landed himself in the eye of a storm over his controversial remarks about women making use of the Congress government’s free bus travel scheme.
Taking suo motu cognisance of “the derogatory nature of the comments”, Nerella Sharada, chairperson of the Telangana State Commission for Women, has said that the body has initiated an inquiry into the matter.
In his remarks Thursday, for which he apologised the following day, KTR had said that women making use of the free bus travel scheme could “break dance” or recording (dance)
Speaking to ThePrint, Sharada said the commission, based on circumstances, “would call KTR for appearance before it seeking his explanation”.
Later, the commission issued a notice to KTR asking him to appear in person on 24 August.
Free travel for women in state-run buses anywhere within Telangana is among the major poll promises seen as having aided the Congress’s victory in the assembly elections last year.
Soon after assuming power, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy launched the scheme in December from the state assembly premises. Women, on producing their Aadhaar card, are issued “a zero ticket”, without any charge.
Since then, however, a few videos circulating on social media have purportedly shown women using the facility to pass the time, chatting, knitting or doing household chores while occupying seats in crowded buses.
In one such reel, a couple of women were seen peeling garlic cloves while travelling in a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus.
As the government faced online trolling and criticism, women and child development minister Danasari Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, questioned the Opposition’s wisdom in ridiculing such activities.
“What is wrong in utilising the time instead of sitting idle while travelling? A journey from a place like Adilabad takes four-five hours. Some would have thought of knitting, which might be their livelihood at home,” Seethakka said at an event Wednesday, alleging that “some people are amplifying these instances to show free bus travel as a waste”.
While addressing BRS workers Thursday, KTR reacted sarcastically to the minister’s words.
— Danasari Seethakka (@seethakkaMLA) August 15, 2024
“We never said it is wrong, Seethakka. Only that we were unaware that buses were plying for that purpose. You should have informed us. Let there be knitting and other activities too, but please arrange enough buses as people are fighting for seats and space. Thereafter, let entire families travel, knitting, weaving, and if they wish break dancing, recording (dance) … anything,” KTR said as the party workers broke into laughter.
The minister responded in a video message, saying KTR’s remarks showed how BRS leaders had a “horrid mindset”, and “disrespectful” attitude towards women, especially those from the working class.
“Is this the culture your father taught you? You, too, have a sister, right?” Seethakka said, referring to former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao and MLC K. Kavitha, who is lodged in a jail in the national capital in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
“Your jealousy of the Congress’s pro-women welfare schemes is manifesting like this. Your ‘break dance’ comments expose your insolence towards women. Allowing the club, pub culture to grow rapidly in Hyderabad the last 10 years, you can easily say so,” said Seethakka.
The minister appealed to Telangana women to ponder the remarks, saying KTR and the BRS were unable to digest the Congress party’s welfare schemes such as free bus travel, power and LPG cylinders for poor women and families.
‘Never meant to offend my sisters’
Under fire, KTR Friday expressed his regrets on X and during a press conference at the BRS headquarters later.
“I express regret if my sisters were offended by the offhand, casual comments made by me in a party meeting yesterday. I never meant to offend my sisters,” KTR posted.
నిన్న పార్టీ సమావేశంలో యథాలాపంగా చేసిన వ్యాఖ్యల వల్ల మా మహిళా సోదరీమణులకు మనస్తాపం కలిగితే, నేను విచారం వ్యక్తం చేస్తున్నాను ..
నా అక్కచెల్లమ్మలను కించపరిచే ఉద్దేశం ఎప్పుడూ లేదు.
— KTR (@KTRBRS) August 16, 2024
When questioned on the issue during the press conference, KTR admitted he made a slip of the tongue but added that he had apologised for his remarks.
“But what about the disrespectful comments CM Revanth passed on senior women leaders Sabitha and Sunitha Reddy. Do you possess that culture to apologise?” asked the ex-minister.
KTR’s reference was to Revanth’s allegedly derogatory remarks on former minister Sabitha in the assembly. The CM alleged that she could not be trusted, saying she had invited him to join the Congress and promised her support ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, only to defect to the BRS herself. The issue rocked the Telangana assembly earlier this month, with opposition MLAs including KTR sitting on protest, demanding that the CM apologise.
Telangana women’s commission chairperson Sharada said that KTR’s post/remarks had been “widely circulated and has come to the attention of the Commission because of its derogatory nature, particularly concerning women”.
“The Commission has observed that the comments made in the post are not only inappropriate but have also caused distress among women across the state. In light of the above, the Commission has initiated a suo motu inquiry into the matter under the powers vested in it by the Telangana State Women’s Commission Act,” Sharada posted on X Thursday.
The Telangana Women’s Commission has taken suo moto cognizance of a media post made by, Sri K. Taraka Rama Rao, Hon'ble Legislator, Sirisilla Constituency.
The said post has been widely circulated and has come to the attention of the Commission due to its derogatory nature,…
— Sharada Nerella (@sharadanerella) August 15, 2024
(Edited by Rohan Manoj)
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