Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s comments against BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha not only led to a string of protests both in Delhi and Telangana but also complaints filed by the BRS against him in the state Women’s Commission as well as at various police stations.

BJP state chief and the party MP from Karimnagar had wondered whether “Kavitha should be kissed if not punished” when asked if the BRS MLC would be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. As the BRS began protesting, both on the streets and on social media, a clarification from his office claimed “Some of the statements made by Bandi Sanjay Garu about three days ago are being blown out of proportion.”

Describing his remark as a common phrase used in Telugu, the statement said it means “if someone does (commits) crime would you appreciate or punish” while dismissing the BRS claims of insult to modesty of a woman and its protests as a diversion tactic to create unrest as the chief minister’s daughter was summoned by ED.

Apart from burning Bandi Sanjay’s effigy at Telangana Bhavan in Delhi, the BRS organised protests across the state while ministers and leaders took to social media platform Twitter to register their protest against Bandi Sanjay. On Twitter BRS leaders urged Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan and National Women’s Commission to take action against Bandi Sanjay for insulting a woman.

Women workers thrashed the effigies with footwears before setting on them afire. BRS MLA Danam Nagender and Talasani Sai Kiran, son of animal husbandry minister Talasani Srinivas, organised a protest in Punjagutta, in the heart of the city. Nagender threatened to file complaints in all the police stations in the city against the state BJP chief.

Telangana Women’s commission took suo moto cognizance of the matter and summoned Bandi Sanjay for an inquiry. He has been asked to appear personally in the notice. A complaint was also lodged by the BRS at Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar police station against the Karimnagar BJP MP. BRS women leaders lodged a complaint against him at Begumpet police station while another was lodged at Vanasthalipuram PS.