BRS Leader K.T. Rama Rao Sends Legal Notice Over Defamatory Remarks

K.T. Rama Rao, the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has issued legal notices to Telangana minister Konda Surekha over what he describes as “baseless and defamatory” statements. The move comes amid a heated exchange between leaders of the Congress and BRS following claims of online harassment directed at Forest and Environment Minister Konda Surekha.

This conflict was triggered by social media posts that BRS officials later apologized for, but Congress representatives continued to demand an unconditional apology from Mr. K.T. Rama Rao, known commonly as KTR. During a recent press conference, Ms. Surekha accused Mr. Rao of phone tapping and derogatory remarks aimed at individuals within the Telugu film industry during his tenure as a minister.

The legal notice from Mr. Rao states that the allegations are intended to harm his reputation through the inclusion of irrelevant parties and slanderous statements. He expressed discontent over Ms. Surekha’s alleged misuse of actors’ names for political motivations, adding that such accusations have been widely disseminated in media and social media.

Mr. Rao has demanded a retraction and a public apology from Ms. Surekha. He warned that failure to comply within 24 hours would result in a defamation lawsuit and possible criminal proceedings.

Adding to the controversy, Telugu actor Junior NTR criticized Ms. Surekha’s remarks, particularly her claim that Mr. Rao was involved in the divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya. “Dragging personal lives into politics is a new low,” he stated on social media, urging public figures to maintain decorum and respect individual privacy.

In response, Samantha Ruth Prabhu requested that her personal affairs not be politicized, asserting that her divorce was a mutual decision devoid of any political implications. She appealed to Ms. Surekha to avoid linking her with political confrontations.

This situation continues to draw attention as Mr. Rao awaits a response from Ms. Surekha, underlining the tensions between the competing political factions in Telangana.