Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan holds Mahila Darbar

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan once again courted controversy on Friday when she held a ‘Mahila Darbar’ at the Raj Bhavan purportedly to interact with women, receive their grievances and suggestions and forward them to the State government for redress. 

Though the programme was meant to “hear the unheard voices of women” as part of the public engagement programme called ‘Praja Darbar,’ the Governor used the occasion to train her guns at her own government in the State, which the ruling TRS termed as a purely politically-motivated move.

Targeting the State government, Tamilisai Soundararajan said she got used to alleged protocol violations and she does not even mind it now. “But the government has to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),” she asserted, and asked the government to respond to requests made on behalf of the people. She alleged that the officials



did not respond to her orders for submission of a detailed report on the Jubilee Hills rape case.

“I want to be the bridge between the government and the public. I decided to hold this programme after the gang-rape case. I am concerned about the safety of women and minors,” she said, and sought to clarify that she had no political motives. “Raj Bhavan has all powers and rights to host such interactions,” she maintained.

The Governor, who interacted with the participants, said in Telugu, she “cannot sit and watch when women are in distress.” “I will work relentlessly for empowerment of women in the State. No one can stop me from working for the people. No one has the power to stop me from fighting on behalf of the people. I will support and stand with women like a strong power. Women should be safe and happy in Telangana,” she added.