Gorantla Madhav video row: TDP leaders seek action against YSRCP MP in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: A controversial video of YSRCP MP Gorantla Madhav has generated political heat with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) lodging a complaint with the Lok Sabha Speaker and demanding stringent action against the MP.

On 4 August, a video of the YSRCP MP on a nude video call with a woman had gone viral on social media. Mr. Madhav, however, had claimed the video was fake.

TDP MPs Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Kanakamedala Ravinda Kumar told media persons in New Delhi that the YSRCP is trying to divert the issue and alleged that the party has become a master in diversion politics.

The TDP leaders said they filed a complaint against the YSRCP MP with the Lok Sabha Speaker because the YSRCP is interested only in bailing out its party leaders, including Gorantla Madhav, from criminal cases. "We are confident that the Lok Sabha Speaker will act on our letter," they added.

TDP's Ram Mohan Naidu accused the ruling YSRCP of not taking any initiative in the interest of the state and said it is not making any effort to wage a fight either for special category status or for the Kadapa steel plant. Women's safety in Andhra Pradesh is under threat and Mr. Madhav's issue has proved it beyond doubt, he said, and added that the YSRCP should take immediate measures to protect women.

YSRCP trying to protect MP: TDP

Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu firmly believes that the YSRCP is making every effort to save Mr. Madhav from this mess as TDP is of the strong opinion that if action is initiated against the MP, then not a single leader will be safe.

Instead of taking action against the MP, the YSRCP leaders are shamelessly blaming the TDP, Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu said. He opined that if an MP is spared then tomorrow even a common man will resort to such activities and action cannot be initiated against them then. The YSRCP is using all kinds of weapons to safeguard the MP, and AP government advisor Sajjala Ramakrishan Reddy has been changing tack every minute, he added.

Another TDP leader, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, said even women leaders of YSRCP were feeling ashamed of Mr. Madhav. "Why are you maintaining silence on this?" he asked. He said not only MPs from Andhra Pradesh but all MPs are discussing the issue of Mr. Madhav. How much time does it take to get a forensic lab report on Mr. Madhav's video? he asked.

He asked why the video is being linked to TDP national president Chandrababu Naidu. "Where is the connection between the two? Not even an FIR has been booked against Mr. Naidu and the High Court has dismissed the case but the government appealed against it. The YSRCP has no ethics," he maintained.

He continued, "In politics, there are no enemies, only rivals. But after the YSRCP came to power, the party has only enemies and no rivals. In what capacity is Mr. Sajjala holding media conferences? He is just a government employee. Why is he responding on every issue?" asked Mr. Kanakamedala.

Besides blaming Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is not taking any steps for the welfare of the people and to check criminal cases, said the TDP leaders.

The TDP MPs demanded stringent action against the YSRCP MP.