telangana

BRS rebuts BJP over MIM MLC controversy, questions party’s silence on Bandi Bhageerath case

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi demanded answers from BJP state chief N Ramchander Rao after he accused the BRS of staying silent on the Mirza Rahmath Baig controversy. BRS General Secretary RS Praveen Kumar counter‑attacked, highlighting the BJP’s alleged inaction on a POCSO case involving the son of a Union minister and citing past instances of the party’s handling of crimes against women.

By Telangana Today · 2026-08-30

What happened

TL;DR

BRS slams BJP for silence on a minister’s son’s alleged rape and counters criticism over the Mirza Rahmath Baig controversy.

Key points

BRS demanded an explanation from BJP state president N Ramchander Rao over the party’s alleged inaction on the Bandi Bhageerath POCSO case
RS Praveen Kumar accused the BJP of not joining protests or demanding the Union minister’s resignation after the alleged rape of a minor
MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi suspended Mirza Rahmath Baig after learning of the incident, while the alleged victim in that case had not filed a complaint
BRS claims the BJP has a history of supporting accused in women‑related crimes, citing Bilkis Bano and Unnao cases
BRS says it fought to upgrade charges in the Bandi Bhageerath case, leading to the accused’s imprisonment

Hyderabad – The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has formally sought an explanation from BJP state president N Ramchander Rao over what it describes as the party’s failure to condemn a POCSO case involving Bandi Bhageerath, the son of a BJP Union minister. The demand came after Rao criticised the BRS for what he called a “silence” on the controversy surrounding MIM MLC Mirza Rahmath Baig.

BRS General Secretary RS Praveen Kumar responded sharply, urging Rao not to make reckless statements. Kumar questioned why Rao had not joined the statewide protests that erupted after a minor girl allegedly was raped by the Union minister’s son, and why he had not called for the minister’s resignation. “If you are serious about women’s safety, why did you stay silent at the BJP office and why did no woman leader of the party speak out?” Kumar asked.

Regarding the MIM MLC case, Kumar said the alleged victim had not lodged a formal complaint. He noted that MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, after learning of the incident, directed the MLC to resign and suspended him from the party. Kumar added that if Owaisi possessed any video evidence or information about the alleged victim, he should immediately hand it over to the local police or the DGP to ensure a proper investigation.

Rahmath Baig, meanwhile, has filed a complaint alleging that deep‑fake videos were created to spread false propaganda against him. Kumar contrasted this with the Bandi Bhageerath case, where the victim, despite facing threats, a “honey‑trap” accusation and mental harassment, bravely lodged a complaint. He claimed that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy initially tried to dilute the case by registering it under minor sections, but the BRS continued to fight on the victim’s behalf until the charges were upgraded to serious sections and the accused was sent to jail.

Kumar also accused the BJP of a history of supporting or parading accused persons in crimes against women, citing the Bilkis Bano and Unnao cases as examples. He demanded the suspension of Bandi Sanjay and Sangappa, stating, “Only then is it appropriate for Ramchander Rao to speak about the BRS.” The BRS reiterated its stance that it condemns atrocities against girls and women.

The exchange underscores the growing political tussle in Telangana over how parties handle allegations of sexual violence and the broader narrative of women’s safety in the state.