The unceremonious manner in which firebrand actor-turned-MLA of the YSR Congress party R K Roja was detained at Vijayawada airport and sent back to Hyderabad after being denied entry into the National Women’s Parliament has no doubt become a big news for the media.
But that was exactly what Roja also wanted. Her objective was to prove that Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu wants only praises and applauses, but he would not allow any voice of dissent to be heard at any meeting. And her purpose was served.
In fact, Roja was not any special invitee to the National Women’s Parliament. Like all the other women MLAs, including those from the TDP, she also got an invite to participate in the meeting as a delegate. Her name was not there in the list of Speakers at all.
Only a few women leaders from various parties, including the Congress, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, and Aam Admi Party were invited on the dais to speak on specific issues.
Had Roja decided to attend the meeting quietly, she would not have any problem. But she made her intentions clear by declaring well in advance that she would question Naidu on atrocities on women and humiliations meted out to them in the hands of the TDP leaders. It was obvious that she wanted to create a political ruckus at the meeting.
And Roja knows very well that she would not be allowed to create nuisance at the meeting and would be arrested. That was what her intention was. But even before she reached the venue, the Vijayawada police quietly diverted her and sent her back to Hyderabad. Roja lost an opportunity to create some ruckus at the women’s parliament and the media, too, missed a big chance.
But the fact that Roja was not allowed to reach the venue itself has become a news and it has given her an opportunity to deride Naidu!
