Telangana Congress MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy faces row over video with girl student

A political row has erupted in Telangana after a video showing Congress MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy holding the hand of a girl student during a conversation on a moving state-run bus went viral, drawing allegations of inappropriate behaviour from the BJP and BRS. Ranga Reddy has rejected the allegations, saying he interacted with the students with "fatherly affection".

Ranga Reddy, 70, the Ibrahimpatnam MLA, was travelling on a state-run bus operating under the Congress government's 'Mahalakshmi' free bus scheme for women. The video shows him speaking to two girl students during the journey.

Opposition questions MLA's conduct

At one point, the MLA is seen holding one of the girls' hands and appearing to pull her closer, reported India Today. She moves away, after which he reaches out and holds her hand again.

Also Read: Danam Nagender case: What SC’s refusal to intervene means for Telangana defections

The footage prompted the Opposition parties to question Ranga Reddy's conduct. The BJP alleged that the MLA appeared to put his hand around the young woman's waist even as she visibly moved away.

“And this is the party that lectures the country on ‘Smash Patriarchy’? The hypocrisy is staggering. When will Congress apply its slogans to its own leaders?” BJP leader Arun Yadav said on X.

BRS seeks action from Women's Commission

BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar also questioned why Ranga Reddy held the girl's hand and allegedly touched her inappropriately.

“Is it not an offence? Is it not outraging the modesty of a woman?” he said.

Also Read: How Hyderabad's Chanchalguda jail turned into a millionaires’ hub

Kumar demanded that the Telangana State Women's Commission summon the MLA. In a post on X, he also questioned the absence of women security personnel on the bus.

He urged the Telangana DGP to accept a complaint from the RTC conductor and register a case. Kumar also accused the BJP and Congress of “competing with each other in insulting women.”

Ranga Reddy denies allegations

Ranga Reddy, however, denied the allegations and said the BRS had twisted the interaction on social media.

In a video statement, the MLA said he boarded the bus after attending a meeting at the District Collector's office on Tuesday, reported India Today.

Also Read: Telangana hospital fire: Two infants die, two critical after SNCU blaze in Adilabad

He said he spoke to people from different sections during the journey, including some girl students who asked for more buses because of the heavy passenger rush.

Ranga Reddy said the video was recorded while the bus was taking a turn and was being wrongly interpreted by the BRS on social media. “I have immense respect for girls,” he added.