PVN Madhav calls statements inflammatory, says they have no place in responsible politics

VIJAYAWADA: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh president PVN Madhav on Sunday strongly condemned remarks made by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, asserting that statements designed to inflame communal tensions would not be accepted by any section of society.

Mr. Madhav said it was deeply objectionable for any leader to speak with the intent of targeting and destroying a particular community. He demanded that Mr. Kharge issue an immediate and unconditional public apology, and called upon the government to register a case and arrest him for making such remarks. Such statements, he said, had no place in political discourse.

The BJP State president said that at a time when the party was committed to the inclusive philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', remarks aimed at driving a wedge between Hindu and Muslim communities deserved the strongest condemnation.

Mr. Madhav also took strong exception to the allegations levelled against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, describing it as an organisation that had consistently promoted national unity and patriotism. He recalled numerous instances where RSS volunteers had worked alongside the police and the armed forces during natural disasters, rendering relief and rehabilitation services. Targeting such an organisation to provoke public sentiment was unethical, he said, adding that Mr. Kharge's remarks represented a new low in political conduct.

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VIJAYAWADA: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh president PVN Madhav on Sunday announced that the party would undertake a series of state-wide programmes in support of the Women's Reservation Bill, formally known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. He was addressing a press conference at the party's state office in Vijayawada.

Mr. Madhav described the legislation as a landmark decision in the country's history and a crucial step towards women's empowerment. He said it was a matter of pride that the Bill had received near-unanimous support in both Houses of Parliament under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and criticised previous governments for having failed to translate similar intentions into legislation despite repeated attempts.

He stated that the party had set its sights on ensuring full implementation of women's reservations by the 2029 elections, following the completion of the census and the delimitation of constituencies. He added that necessary amendments would be taken up during the special session of Parliament scheduled for the 16th, 17th, and 18th of this month.

Outlining the outreach initiatives planned in support of the Bill, Mr. Madhav said the party would organise women's rallies, public meetings, and scooter rallies across the State. Wall writing, signature collection drives, and missed call campaigns would also be conducted to mobilise public support. He added that these programmes would be carried out in coordination with alliance parties.

BJP Mahila Morcha State president Nishidha Raju said that providing one-third representation to women in Parliament was a matter of honour. She noted that the Central government was implementing several welfare schemes aimed at women's empowerment, including Mudra, Poshan, Anganwadi, and vaccination programmes.

The press conference was attended by BJP State General Secretary Saligrama Lakshmi Prasanna, State Secretaries Boddu Nagalakshmi, Kambhampati Madhavi, K. Padmaja, N. Lakshmi Durga, CH Shivalалита, and D. Swathi Rao, among others.