VIJAYAWADA: Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh condemned former minister Ambati Rambabu for allegedly insulting the mother of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. “Will we remain silent if the Chief Minister’s mother is insulted?” he questioned.
During the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address in the Legislative Council on Friday, Lokesh refuted allegations made by YSRCP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Council Botcha Satyanarayana and YSRCP MLC Bommireddy Israel, who claimed that Ambati Rambabu’s arrest reflected a deterioration of law and order in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Lokesh said that Ambati Rambabu had insulted the Chief Minister’s mother and demanded a clear answer on whether this was true or not. “One must carefully examine the words used by Ambati Rambabu. If the Chief Minister’s mother is insulted, should we simply let it go? We must respect women. That responsibility lies with all of us. Whether inside or outside the House, it is our collective duty to respect women,” he stated.
Referring to former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s comment on the issues, Lokesh said, “Jagan claims Ambati merely spoke ‘two small words.’ How can insulting a mother be considered small words? How can members justify such a person? You (Jagan) may not have the habit of respecting your own mother or sister, but we do. We carry that responsibility. If anyone targets women, we will not spare them.”
He further stated that whether it is Jagan Reddy’s mother or anyone else’s mother, sister, the people’s government will not tolerate derogatory remarks against women. “That is what our Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have said,” he added.
Seeking to know how the remarks made by Ambati Rambabu could be brushed aside as “two small words”, Lokesh pointed out “Can a person in a leadership position speak in such a manner?”