BRS slams Ponnam, Thummala over ‘insensitive’ remarks on Maganti Sunitha

BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao face criticism for accusing BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha of feigning grief to gain sympathy votes in Jubilee Hills. BRS leaders demand unconditional apologies for the “insensitive and derogatory” comments

Hyderabad: The Jubilee Hills election campaign hit a new low on Tuesday after BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar made controversial remarks against BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha, accusing her of ‘enacting dramas’ and shedding ‘fake tears’ to seek sympathy votes.

The Minister’s comments, made while addressing party workers at Yousufguda, drew strong criticism from political opponents and the public alike, with many calling his remarks indecent and insensitive.

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Prabhakar, while initially saying he sympathised with Sunitha over the death of her husband and sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath, went on to accuse her of “acting” to win public support.

“By crying on stage and during political speeches, she is trying to seek sympathy votes. The BRS leaders are not ready for a debate on the progress of Jubilee Hills in the last 10 years. Instead, sympathy dramas are being enacted like in cinemas,” he said, further alleging that BRS leaders were instructing her to cry at each public meeting.

In a separate meeting, Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao also made similar remarks, claiming that the BRS was trying to exploit Sunitha’s emotions for political gain. “The BRS is not leaving any opportunity, even a woman’s tears. They want to get back to power through sympathy and loot,” he said.

The remarks triggered outrage, with BRS leaders condemning what they described as “insensitive and derogatory statements” and demanding apologies from the Ministers. Former Minister V Srinivas Goud said the comments reflected a complete lack of moral and human values.

“Thummala Nageswara Rao should be ashamed of himself. If Rajiv Gandhi’s family could campaign after his death, why cannot Sunitha’s children campaign for her? The Ministers must immediately apologise,” he demanded, stating that the Ministers’ remarks were not only disrespectful to Sunitha, but also an insult to all women in Telangana.

BRS MLC Tata Madhu said the comments exposed the Congress leadership’s fear of defeat in Jubilee Hills. “It is appalling that Ministers would stoop so low. They should apologise to the women of Telangana for their indecent language,” he said, adding that the party stood firmly with Sunitha and her family.

BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar said it was ‘inhuman’ to mock a grieving wife. “Calling her tears a drama is inhuman. Politics can be done, but not by insulting someone’s personal loss,” he said, demanding that Ponnam Prabhakar withdraw his comments and tender an unconditional apology.