A row has erupted over a speech made by BJP leader Navneet Rana in Hyderabad while campaigning for the party’s Hyderabad Lok Sabha candidate Madhavi Latha on Wednesday. Referring to AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi’s speech at Nirmal in Telangana in 2012, in which he said that if police is removed for 15 minutes his community would show 100 crore Hindus what it could do, Rana said, “Akbaruddin said remove police for 15 minutes so they can show what they can do… I say, it may take you 15 minutes but it will take us only 15 seconds.”
Rana was campaigning along with several BJP leaders on May 8 when she made this statement. Responding to her statements, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said, “I am telling Modi ji, give her 15 seconds. What will you do? Give her 15 seconds, give her one hour. We also want to see if you have any humanity left in you. Who is scared? We are all ready. If someone is making open calls like this, let it be so. PM is yours, RSS is yours, everything is yours. Do it. Who is stopping you? Tell us where we have to come, we will be there, do it.”
Rana also said in her speech that Latha will win and prevent Hyderabad from becoming Pakistan. “If you vote for AIMIM or Congress, it goes to Pakistan. Pakistan shows love for AIMIM and Rahul. Congress has ruled this country on the directions of Pakistan.”
Chairperson of Virinchi Hospitals, Latha is taking on four-time MP Owaisi in what has evolved into a bitter and highly vitriolic campaign. It is an uphill uphill task for the BJP. In the 2019 elections, Owaisi defeated the nearest rival, BJP’s Bhagavanth Rao Pawar, with a margin of 2,82,186 votes. He had polled 5,17,471 votes.
Last month, Latha had apologised after a video went viral purportedly showing her symbolically shooting an arrow in the direction of a mosque, during the Sri Rama Navami rally. As the video went viral on social media, Latha said, “It has come to my notice that one video of mine is being circulated in the media to create negativity. I would like to clarify that it is an incomplete view. But if anyone’s sentiments are hurt, I would like to apologise as I respect all individuals.” Owaisi had termed her act vulgar and provocative.
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
