Kompella Madhavi Latha Sparks Political Row Over Durga Suktam at Delhi Airport Prayer Room

Kompella Madhavi Latha has sparked a debate on social media after a video showed her chanting Durga Suktam inside a multi-faith prayer room at Delhi Airport during the Navratri period. The video, which was shared by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on her official X account, quickly drew mixed reactions from users online, with opinions divided over the appropriateness of the act in a shared religious space.

In the video, Latha is seen entering the prayer room and sitting cross-legged while reciting the Sanskrit hymn, marking the occasion of Navratri, which began on March 19, 2026. The clip also shows that the space had been used moments earlier by women wearing hijabs, highlighting the multi-faith nature of the facility. The prayer rooms at Indian airports are designed as neutral spaces where individuals from all religions can engage in personal reflection or prayer.

Sharing the video, Latha described the act as a moment of spiritual stillness amid a busy environment. She wrote that the experience was aimed at seeking inner alignment and invoking divine energy for the well-being of society. Emphasising traditional values, she noted that such prayer spaces represent India’s long-standing culture of spiritual inclusivity and should be treated with reverence and purity by all visitors.

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She further stated that maintaining the sanctity of these spaces is a collective responsibility, describing them as places meant for quiet reflection, devotion, and inner peace. Her message highlighted the importance of preserving silence and spiritual focus in such environments, referring to them as sacred zones that should inspire a sense of discipline among those who use them.

The incident, however, triggered a broader discussion online, with some users praising the gesture as an expression of faith and cultural identity, while others criticised it as inappropriate in a shared, multi-religious setting. Critics argued that such actions could be perceived as insensitive or politically motivated, especially when performed in spaces meant to remain neutral and inclusive for all communities.

Kompella Madhavi Latha, a prominent BJP leader and social worker from Hyderabad, has previously gained national attention as a candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The episode underscores ongoing conversations in India حول the intersection of religion, public spaces, and political expression, particularly during significant religious observances like Navratri.

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