BJP leader Kompella Madhavi Latha has come under fire after sharing a video of herself reciting the Durga Suktam inside a Muslim prayer at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The video, posted on X, shows Latha chanting audibly while seated in the prayer space. Other travellers, including women wearing burqas are visible in the background. The clip quickly circulated online, drawing criticism over the use of a space designated for Muslim worship.
Critics have raised concerns about the nature of the act and the manner in which it was carried out. The prayer room is understood to be intended for quiet reflection, and objections have been raised to the audible recitation and filming within the space.
Congress social media coordinator Mohammad Waseem tagged the Airport Authority of India and said: “Please take action as the prayer room is only for silent prayers and meditation.. making others uncomfortable by doing prayer with sound and camera.” – India Today
Observers on social media similarly questioned whether the act respects the religious sensitivity of the space, particularly given the visible presence of other worshippers.
The incident has also revived scrutiny of Latha’s past conduct. During the 2024 election period, she drew widespread criticism after a video showed her mimicking a bow-and-arrow gesture in the direction of a mosque. An act that was widely condemned as provocative and seen by critics as inflaming religious tensions.
As the video continues to circulate, the incident has added to ongoing concerns about how religious expression in public spaces can intersect with politics and deepen social divisions.