Hyderabad, May 20 -- In the past two days, leaders from both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have played down the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) case against Bandi Bageerath.

While speaking to a reporter on Wednesday, May 20, the BJP MLA from Amrur, Paidi Rakesh Reddy, said that "friendships between boys and girls are very common these days," adding that since the victim and Bandi Bageerath have been very close for a long time, he hopes that the two families will sit together and find a solution amicably.

"It's just a matter of three months anyways." he said, alluding to the fact that the victim will be over 18 years in three months.

A day earlier, the Congress MP for Nagarkurnool, Mallu Ravi, who...