Harish Rao Slaps Defamation Notices on Addanki, Sama Ram Mohan

Former minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao on Monday demanded an unconditional apology from Congress leaders Addanki Dayakar and Sama Ram Mohan Reddy for their alleged false and defamatory remarks that he had performed occult rituals at temples to prevent rainfall in Telangana.

Harish Rao, in legal notices served to the two Congress leaders, described the allegations as false, baseless and defamatory. The comments, the notices said, deliberately attempted to tarnish Harish Rao’s reputation through a malicious campaign aimed at damaging his public image.

The notices specifically objected to the statements claiming that Harish Rao visited temples to perform occult or tantric rituals with the intention of preventing rainfall in Telangana and causing drought in the state.

These comments were not only completely false, reckless and defamatory, and aimed at targeting Harish Rao personally, but also insult the sanctity of temples and hurt the sentiments of devotees by politicising religious practices, the notices said.

Harish Rao demanded that the Congress leaders immediately withdraw all defamatory statements and issue an unconditional public apology through the same television channels, digital platforms and other media outlets where the allegations were originally made. If they fail to do so, then appropriate legal proceedings, including both civil and criminal defamation cases, and seek all remedies available under law will be initiated against them.