The BJP criticized State Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali for his alleged sexist remarks on women’s dress code. Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar questioned whether the State really has a home minister and if he ever performed his responsibilities. He also criticized Ali for his reaction over an issue of women candidates directed to remove their Hijab to write an exam. He asked why the minister did not react when Hindu women were asked to remove bindis, flowers, bangles, and watches to write exams. Party spokesperson Rani Rudrama demanded an apology from Ali for his unbecoming statements against women’s clothing.
Rudrama also accused Ali of failing in giving protection from the AIMIM and BRS leaders to women in the state. She recalled a woman had lodged a complaint against a BRS legislator in the women’s police station, but the police did not file an FIR on sexual harassment of the MLA, forcing her to go to Delhi to fight for justice. The BJP leader asked the minister why on average seven POCSO cases are registered for atrocities committed against children and minors.
The BJP criticized Ali’s reasoning that wearing certain kinds of dress is the cause of such incidents, which exposes his inefficiency. The party alleged that Ali’s statements amounted to insulting Hindu women and asked why he was silent when Hindu women were humiliated, and murders and rapes took place.
