- Unchecked, obscene attacks on women by TDP and Jana Sena fanatics.
- Vile abuse directed at Y.S. Jagan, Bharati Reddy and their family members in an X Space.
- No action despite complaints containing account details and links.
- From character assassination of Roja to trolling a child who posed for a photograph with Jagan.
- A continuing series of outrages, beginning with Geethanjali’s killing.
- Women in Jagan’s family once again targeted with filthy abuse.
- What message are Chandrababu, Pawan Kalyan and Lokesh sending their party workers?
- Police ignore complaints against abusive supporters of the ruling parties.
- What is the police machinery doing to protect women’s dignity?
- YSRCP has already made it clear that it will pursue legal action.
- Anger spreads among party cadres across the state.
Emboldened by those in power, iTDP trolls and Jana Sena fanatics are running wild. They are targeting women on social media with language too obscene to reproduce. While YSRCP has exercised restraint over the issue of Pawan Kalyan’s divorce, Jana Sena supporters have directly targeted Y.S. Jagan’s family members with vile abuse, drawing sharp criticism.
Participants in an X Space used filthy language without restraint. Despite complaints from YSRCP leaders seeking action against them, police have failed to respond even at a basic level. Anger is consequently spreading among YSRCP cadres across the state. The party has already made it clear that it will pursue legal action.
Will the Police Not Even Respond to Complaints?
When will action be taken against the Jana Sena supporters responsible for this abuse? Who will stop people from targeting family members with disgusting remarks? Even after approaching the police with account details and evidence of the comments, must complainants launch another struggle simply to secure action?
The obscene remarks made in an X Space against former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, his wife Y.S. Bharati and their family members have brought these questions to the forefront. YSRCP has condemned police inaction despite complaints against several people associated with Jana Sena.
Government leaders speak about women’s safety from public platforms. What answer do they have when complaints concern supporters of their own parties?
Evidence Submitted, but Where Is the Action?
On November 12, Devineni Avinash, Malladi Vishnu, Dodda Anji Reddy and other leaders submitted a complaint to the Vijayawada Cyber Crime Police. They stated that they had provided details identifying who spoke in the X Space, the accounts used, the timing of the remarks and the relevant links. They sought identification of those responsible and strict action against them.
They questioned why Jagan’s family members were being targeted when he had explicitly instructed his own party workers not to comment on anyone’s personal life.
After receiving such a detailed complaint, what should the police tell the public? What action has been taken? Has a case been registered? Have the accounts been examined? Have those who made the obscene remarks been identified? How far has the investigation progressed?
Police officials have a responsibility to answer these questions and keep those affected informed about the handling of their complaints. Criticism is mounting that the investigation is being delayed because those named in the complaint enjoy the backing of the ruling parties.
From Roja to Children, the Same Character Assassination
This culture of targeting women with abuse did not begin with the latest incident. Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy’s obscene remarks against senior YSRCP leader Roja had earlier triggered a major controversy. That episode turned political differences into an attack on a woman’s character. The continued repetition of such conduct is deeply disturbing.
YSRCP has previously questioned Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy’s remarks against Roja, Kirrak RP’s humiliating comments, Seema Raja’s abuse of women leaders and Chebrolu Kiran’s comments about Jagan’s family. It has also condemned attempts to circulate photographs of Thopudurthi Prakash Reddy’s family with fabricated insinuations.
The party has questioned even the trolling of a child who posed for a photograph with Jagan. How far have political standards fallen when women and children with no connection to politics are dragged into these disputes?
Should the authorities not disclose the status of complaints submitted over these earlier incidents?
Swift Action Against Criticism, but Delays on Women’s Complaints?
YSRCP has pointed out that the official machinery moves swiftly to register cases, issue notices and remove social media posts critical of the government. Why does the same machinery fail to respond with equal urgency when complaints concern people associated with the ruling parties?
The government must explain why the initiative shown in removing posts concerning Heritage and B.R. Naidu is missing when it comes to stopping obscene campaigns against women.
Does a woman’s dignity not deserve the same priority as the reputation of those in power? Does the police response depend on the complainant’s political affiliation? Does action depend on whose supporter the person named in the complaint happens to be?
Such perceptions of bias undermine public confidence in the police. Only a transparent investigation and action based on evidence can answer them.
What Message Are Chandrababu, Pawan and Lokesh Sending?
Party leaderships have a responsibility to restrain people who insult women while operating in their parties’ names or claiming to be their supporters.
Can Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan and Lokesh clearly declare that anyone making obscene remarks against women has no place in their parties? If the accounts belong to their party workers, will they take disciplinary action? Will they direct them to cooperate with the police investigation?
The charge that iTDP-linked accounts are further circulating the obscene remarks made by Jana Sena supporters must also be investigated. Evidence must establish the roles of those who made the remarks, deliberately shared them or encouraged their circulation. The investigation must determine whether anyone issued instructions and whether the campaign was coordinated.
If the investigation does not move forward, the government itself will strengthen suspicions of political protection.
If even those who make vile remarks about a former Chief Minister’s wife are spared action, what protection can ordinary women expect?
Party leaders have had to visit a police station to demand action over obscene remarks against women in a former Chief Minister’s family. Even afterwards, they have had to press for action. What, then, is the position of an ordinary woman without political backing or influence?
What reassurance can a working woman, student or homemaker expect when she complains about online harassment?
The abuse does not end with a single post. Repeated sharing prolongs the humiliation and emotional distress suffered by the woman targeted. Delays in responding can therefore have serious consequences.
Why should women have to plead so persistently to protect their dignity in a state with a woman Home Minister? What purpose does the police machinery serve if it cannot protect women facing cyber harassment?
Complaints Must Be Answered
Police must disclose the complaints received, the cases registered and the progress of the investigation. They must preserve the relevant audio recordings, posts and account details and establish the role of each person responsible.
They must work with the platforms concerned to prevent further circulation of obscene content. Earlier complaints concerning abuse of women and children must also be reviewed. Action must be taken according to law, irrespective of the political affiliation of those responsible.
Women’s dignity has no party affiliation. Their protection is not a favour granted at the discretion of political leaders.
Action must be taken against those conducting obscene campaigns in the names of Jana Sena and iTDP. Social media harassment must be stopped. Women who have complained must receive justice.
The Chandrababu government and the police department must answer.
