‘Arrow towards mosque’ gesture lands BJP’s Hyderabad candidate and Owaisi challenger in hot water

Issuing an explanation, Kompella Madhavi Latha said ‘incomplete video’ being circulated to ‘create negativity’

Kompella Madhavi Latha was participating in a Ram Navmi procession near Siddiamber Bazaar Junction in old Hyderabad, and riding an open-top vehicle. (Video grab)

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.

Latha was participating in a Ram Navmi procession near Siddiamber Bazaar Junction in old Hyderabad, and riding an open-top vehicle. The rally had been organised by BJP MLA T Raja Singh.

During the festivities, the mosque had been covered in white cloth to avoid communal tensions. The BJP candidate, who has in the past spoken about her work for Pasmanda Muslims and who has been picked to take on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi from the seat, took to X to issue an explanation.

“It has come to my notice that one video of mine is being circulated in media to create negativity. I would like to clarify that it’s an incomplete video and even because of such video if any one’s sentiments are hurt then I would like to apologise as I respect all individuals,” she wrote.

Speaking to reporters, Owaisi called Latha’s gesture provocative, objectionable and vulgar, and appealed to the electorate to vote for peace and prosperity of Hyderabad. He also questioned the Election Commission, the Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, the District Election Officer and the Chief Electoral Officer for not taking suo motu action against the BJP candidate.

An AIMIM official said they would write to the Election Commission of India and lodge a police complaint against her.

An EC spokesperson did not respond to request for a comment on whether the EC had received a complaint on the incident and taken any action.

Story continues below this ad

Don't Miss | BJP’s choice to take on Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad: Long-time RSS worker, mother of three

The 49-year-old describes herself as a “daughter of RSS”, a “typical traditional Indian woman”, an entrepreneur, hospital administrator, and a trained Bharatanatyam dancer.

A political novice, she shot to the limelight after the BJP picked as a challenger to Owaisi, whose party has held on to the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat since 1984. Earlier this month, she had earned praise from the PM for her appearance on a TV show.

Also Read | Asaduddin Owaisi versus? After BJP, Congress considers first-time woman candidate

In an interview to The Indian Express earlier, she said the BJP ticket to contest was an acknowledgment of 18 years of charity work done by her, and another example of the party’s ability to recognise the potential of people.

“The BJP would not have picked me at all if Hindu-Muslim was my poll issue. The party knows I work with a lot of Muslims and I am compassionate towards them. I have been a fierce critic of triple talaq. If I can go on a hunger strike for a temple, I will do the same for a Muslim woman,” she had said.

Rahul V Pisharody

Rahul V Pisharody is Assistant Editor with the Indian Express Online and has been reporting for IE on various news developments from Telangana since 2019. He is currently reporting on legal matters from the Telangana High Court. Rahul started his career as a journalist in 2011 with The New Indian Express and worked in different roles at the Hyderabad bureau for over 8 years. As Deputy Metro Editor, he was in charge of the Hyderabad bureau of the newspaper and coordinated with the team of city reporters, district correspondents, other centres and internet desk for over three years. A native of Palakkad in Kerala, Rahul has a Master's degree in Communication (Print and New Media) from the University of Hyderabad and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore. ... Read More

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram