BJP files complaint against RGV over his tweet about Presidential nominee Draupadi Murmu

Hyderabad: Telangana BJP leaders lodged a complaint against film director Ram Gopal Varma at the Abids police station on 24 June alleging that the director made derogatory remarks about NDA Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu on social media.

Abids inspector B. Prasada Rao said senior BJP leaders Gudur Narayana Reddy and T. Nandeshwar Goud filed the complaint.

A tweet was submitted as evidence. "If DRAUPADI is the PRESIDENT who are the PANDAVAS? And more importantly, who are the KAURAVAS?" the tweet read.

The complainants told the police to register a case under SC/ST Atrocities Act. "We have sought legal opinion about the complaint. Based on it, we will take necessary action," Prasada Rao said.

BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominated former Jharkhand Governor and tribal leader from Odisha Draupadi Murmu as their Presidential candidate on 22 June. She is the first woman and tribal leader from Odisha to be appointed as Governor of Jharkhand. Coming from the Adivasi community, her nomination is being seen as a message to the people that the BJP is not a party of the upper caste and upper class.

Murmu's name was also on the list for the 2017 Presidential elections but she could not make the cut. Instead, Ram Nath Kovind was shortlisted.

The Modi government got a shot in the arm after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy announced his support for the NDA Presidential candidate.

The Presidential election is scheduled for 18 July. Murmu filed her nomination papers earlier today at 1:30 pm in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.