HYDERABAD, SEPT 6 :  Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, criticised AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi for his alleged silence regarding the recent sexual assault and attempted murder of a tribal woman in Jainur, Adilabad district.

Sanjay expressed his dismay, stating, “It is shameful that Owaisi has not responded to such a horrific incident, but instead, he focuses on material concerns like furniture and shops, implying they are more important than the lives of women.”

Bandi Sanjay questioned the lack of immediate action by the authorities following the assault, which occurred last month. He emphasised that there is no justification for filing “illegal cases” against Hindu youth while serious crimes against women go unchecked.

The Union Minister, along with several BJP leaders, including MPs Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and Nagesh, visited the victim, who is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU at Gandhi Hospital on Friday. Sanjay was visibly shocked by the extent of the injuries, noting that the woman’s face was so severely disfigured it was beyond recognition.

Speaking to the media, he condemned the brutal attack, comparing it to the infamous Nirbhaya and Disha cases, stating, “The assault on the 45-year-old tribal woman from Devuguda in Jainur is heart-wrenching, yet the state government has failed to take decisive action or even offer adequate support to the victim and her family.” He further criticized the government’s perceived indifference to such incidents, stating that there is a failure to prevent the recurrence of violence against women.

Bandi Sanjay pointed out other instances of sexual violence that have gone unaddressed, including the alleged rape of a minor girl by a municipal chairman in Nirmal and an incident in Jubilee Hills involving the son of an MIM MLA. He also mentioned an earlier case where an MIM leader in Begambazar, Hyderabad, was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. In each case, he accused the authorities of delayed responses and leniency towards the perpetrators.

“These incidents reflect a broader failure to protect women,” Sanjay said. “If Owaisi had any humanity, he would visit the victim and stand against such heinous crimes, instead of remaining silent or focusing on less significant matters.”

He warned that filing wrongful cases against Hindu and tribal youth in the name of maintaining law and order would only escalate tensions. Sanjay called on the police to act impartially, urging strict action against the accused in this case and others.

The Union Minister offered the government support in taking swift action against illegal encroachments and said that if necessary, he would send bulldozers to remove such structures. “If the Congress-led state government cannot take action, then we will,” he said.(UNI)