Telangana minister apologises to KTR for linking Samantha and Naga Chaitanya's divorce

PTC News Desk: Facing widespread criticism and a defamation suit, Telangana minister Konda Surekha has retracted her controversial comments linking BRS leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) to the divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya. The 59-year-old Congress leader issued an apology on Thursday, expressing regret for her remarks and clarifying that she did not intend to hurt Samantha's sentiments.

In a series of tweets tagging Samantha, Konda Surekha apologized, stating that her comments were aimed at questioning the actions of a political leader and not at attacking the actress personally. "My comments are meant to question a leader's belittling of women and not to hurt your @Samanthaprabhu2 sentiments. The way you have grown up with self-power is not only an admiration for me, but also an ideal," she tweeted.

She added, "If you or your fans are offended by my comments, I unconditionally retract my comments. Don't think otherwise."

The apology followed a viral video in which Konda Surekha accused KTR of meddling in the personal lives of celebrities, including Samantha and Naga Chaitanya. In the video, which surfaced on social media earlier in the week, the minister made explosive claims, alleging that KTR was involved in the couple's separation. She also implicated Naga Chaitanya's father, veteran actor Nagarjuna, in her accusations.

"Naga Chaitanya's divorce happened 100 per cent due to KTR. This is because, to avoid demolishing the N Convention hall, Samantha was forced to meet KTR. Nagarjuna had pressured Samantha, saying, 'Either you listen to us or give us a divorce.' That is the reason why the divorce took place. The whole industry knows about it," she alleged in the video.

Konda Surekha also claimed that several actresses, including Rakul Preet Singh, had been pressured into early marriages due to their alleged involvement in drug-related controversies. "Two to three heroines also got married early due to drug cases. Why do we have to bear this headache (because of drug cases) and get married soon?" she said, further alleging that powerful individuals had tapped phones and threatened the actresses.

The minister's remarks triggered immediate outrage from key figures in the Telugu film industry. Naga Chaitanya, Samantha, Nagarjuna, and other top actors condemned the comments, calling them baseless and defamatory.

KTR responded forcefully, sharing a legal notice he had issued to Konda Surekha on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He denounced her allegations as "disgusting and nauseating politics" and called for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene.

"Served legal notices to the minister. Disgusting and nauseating politics by Congress. Request @RahulGandhi to send your minister and chief minister to a mental health specialist or a rehabilitation therapist," KTR tweeted on Tuesday night.

In addition to KTR's legal action, BRS spokesperson Dasoju Sravan demanded that the Congress leadership take immediate steps to dismiss Konda Surekha from her ministerial post. "If Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge ji truly believe in humanity and decency in politics, she must be sacked from her ministerial post in the Telangana government," Sravan said.

Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Prabhu, one of Telugu cinema's most beloved couples, announced their separation in 2021, citing irreconcilable differences. Their split garnered significant media attention, with both actors choosing to remain largely silent about the details of their breakup. Recently, in August 2023, Naga Chaitanya got engaged to actress Sobhita Dhulipala, signaling a new chapter in his personal life.

As the controversy continues to unfold, Konda Surekha's retraction serves as a reminder of the risks and consequences of public figures making unsubstantiated allegations, particularly in an era where misinformation can spread rapidly across social media.

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