Telangana Minister for Forests and Environment, Konda Surekha, has withdrawn her comments regarding actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s divorce from Naga Chaitanya following a significant public outcry.
The controversy erupted after Surekha linked the couple’s separation to KT Rama Rao, the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), prompting strong reactions from Samantha and other prominent figures.
In a statement on X, Surekha clarified that she intended her remarks to challenge a leader’s belittlement of women, not to hurt Samantha’s feelings.
“If you or your fans are offended by my comments, I unconditionally retract my comments,” the minister wrote, adding that she admires Samantha for her self-empowerment and sees her as an ideal.
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The minister’s original comments sparked outrage, leading Rama Rao to issue a legal notice demanding an apology or withdrawal of her statements, threatening legal action if she failed to comply. Samantha, along with Naga Chaitanya and his father, actor Nagarjuna, condemned the minister’s remarks, emphasizing the need for respect regarding personal matters.
Meanwhile, in her own statement, Samantha stressed that her divorce was mutual and amicable, urging the minister to respect her privacy. “It takes a lot of courage and strength… please don’t trivialise it,” she wrote, highlighting the importance of responsible discourse from public figures. She further reiterated, “My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating about it.”
Naga Chaitanya, Amala Akkineni Condemn Minister’s Comments As False & Shameful
Naga Chaitanya also voiced his disapproval, calling the minister’s claims both false and absurd. He emphasized that society must support and respect women, stating that exploiting personal life decisions for media headlines is shameful.
Further compounding the controversy, Naga Chaitanya’s stepmother, Amala Akkineni, expressed her outrage, describing Surekha’s comments as “shocking” and “shameful.” She criticized the minister for using personal matters for political gain, stating, “If leaders lower themselves into the gutter and behave like criminals, what will happen to our country?”
Amala appealed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging him to restrain his party members and demand an apology from the minister. “Mr Rahul Gandhiji, if you believe in human decency, please restrain your politicians and make your minister retract her venomous statements,” she implored.
