‘Women used as click bait’: Telangana IAS officer slams minister’s comments on Samantha-Naga Chaitanya divorce

Congress leader Konda Surekha retracted remark on linking KTR with Samantha-Naga divorce

Amid the comments made by Telangana Minister, Konda Surekha, about actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s divorce from Naga Chaitanya, IAS officer Smita Sabharwal on Thursday said women across the spectrum are used as click bait.

“Even officers are not spared! I speak from personal experience, where the higher one rises on the basis of hardwork the bigger is the attempt to slander! Let us #respectwomen, families, and social norms. Was shocked to see the not so honourable statement by @IKondaSurekha, a sitting Minister. Everything cannot be for politics. Let us build a healthy discourse in public life,” said the IAS officer on the social media platform X.

Women across the spectrum .. are used as click baits .. thumbnails for sensationalism, to grab eyeballs.Even officers are not spared!I speak from personal experience, where the higher one rises on the basis of hardwork the bigger is the attempt to slander!Let us
Smita Sabharwal (@SmitaSabharwal) October 3, 2024

Meanwhile, faced with a defamation suit and massive backlash, Surekha on Thursday withdrew her remarks alleging BRS leader KT Rama Rao's role in actors Samantha and Naga Chaitanya's divorce. Tagging Samantha in tweets, the Congress leader expressed regret, saying she did not mean to hurt the actor's sentiments.

"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," the minister said on X.