Telangana Congress MLAs seek inquiry into BRS leaders' alleged misconduct with women police
A delegation of Congress women MLAs has lodged a complaint with the Telangana State Commission for Women, demanding an inquiry and appropriate legal action against several legislators of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) over an alleged confrontation with women police personnel at the State Legislative Assembly on September 7.
The complaint, filed by MLAs Uttam Padmavathi and Yashaswini Reddy, describes the incident at Gate No. 3 as involving “disgraceful conduct”, misogynistic remarks, and physical intimidation of women police personnel who were deployed on security duty. The two MLAs submitted the written complaint on behalf of a larger group of Congress women legislators and other party members present at the time.
Those named in the complaint include former Minister T. Harish Rao, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, MLC Naveen Kumar Reddy, and MLAs Bandari Lakshma Reddy, K.P. Vivekanand and D. Sudheer Reddy. According to the complainants, these leaders confronted the women police personnel and acted in a manner that was unbecoming of elected representatives.
One of the specific allegations is that several male legislators removed their shirts in full public view and stood in their inner vests while moving into close proximity to the women police personnel. The complaint states that this act was intended to intimidate the women personnel, creating an environment of fear and humiliation during the execution of their official duties.
The complaint further alleges that certain BRS leaders used derogatory and sexist language against the women personnel. It specifically claims that K.T. Rama Rao made a reference to the mythological character Shikhandi while questioning the deployment of women police personnel. The complainants have called this reference offensive and demeaning to working women, noting that Shikhandi's story in the Mahabharata raises complex questions of gender, and invoking it in such a context trivialises the dignity of women in service.
Speaking after filing the complaint, MLA Uttam Padmavathi said the incident amounted to an assault on the dignity of women public servants. She emphasised that elected representatives must be held accountable for their conduct towards women personnel who are discharging official responsibilities, irrespective of political affiliation. She also urged the Commission to conduct a time-bound inquiry and take suitable action to send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
The Telangana State Commission for Women has not yet issued a statement on the complaint, and no reaction has come from the BRS leadership so far. The absence of an immediate response from the accused leaders means that the allegations currently rest solely on the account provided by the Congress MLAs.
The State Commission for Women is empowered to investigate complaints relating to discrimination, harassment, and injustice against women. It may summon individuals, seek documents, and recommend corrective or punitive measures to the government. Women's rights advocates have often emphasised the need for such mechanisms to function independently, especially when the accused are persons in positions of power.
The incident has drawn renewed focus on the treatment of women in public institutions and the broader issue of workplace safety. Women police personnel, tasked with maintaining order during high-pressure political events, are entitled to a safe and respectful environment. Observers say the outcome of this complaint could set an important precedent for how allegations of misconduct involving elected representatives and women on duty are addressed by statutory bodies.
