Rekha Sharma, the chairman of the National Commission for Women, has urged that Tamil actor Siddharth be punished for his controversial tweet regarding badminton champion Saina Nehwal. Saina's tweet about PM Narendra Modi's security failure in Punjab prompted Siddharth to respond. Sharma used Twitter to bring attention to the issue while writing about Siddharth “This man needs a lesson or two. @TwitterIndia, why this person’s account still exists?..taking it up with Concerned police (sic).”

"No nation can claim to be safe if the security of its own Prime Minister is compromised," Saina wrote in a recent post about the Prime Minister's security. In the clearest possible terms, I condemn anarchists' cowardly attack on Prime Minister Modi. #PMModi #BharatStandsWithModi." Siddharth, who is known for his frank, uncensored thoughts on public issues, responded to her tweet with, “Subtle cock champion of the world… Thank God we have protectors of India. Shame on you #Rihanna.”

His first tweet was also criticised by some of his coworkers. The aforementioned tweet was labelled "crass" by singer Chinmayi Sripaada. crass.’ “This is really crass, Siddharth. You just contributed to what a lot of us women are fighting against,”  the tweet stated. 

Siddharth later released a clarification when his tweet received backlash, claiming that his message did not imply anything inappropriate or unpleasant. “COCK & BULL.” That’s the reference. Reading otherwise is unfair and leading! Nothing disrespectful was intended, said or insinuated. Period.🙏”

"Yeah, I'm not sure what he meant," Saina responded later in an interview with PTI, referring to the dispute. I used to admire him as an actor, but it’s not good on his part. He might have used better terms to communicate, but it's Twitter you know, and you get noticed with such words and comments." "If the security of India's Prime Minister is a concern, I'm not sure what else is safe in the country," she concluded.