AMARAVATI – Following a horrifying acid attack on a young woman in the Annamayya district, concerns are mounting in Andhra Pradesh about the TDP government’s commitment to ensuring women’s safety. Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has seized on the incident to launch a scathing critique of the current administration, accusing it of neglecting its duty to protect the women of the state.
The attack, which left a 22-year-old woman with severe injuries, has become a lightning rod for broader anxieties about the state of law and order under the TDP’s watch. Jagan has argued that the government has not only failed to prevent such atrocities but has also dismantled key initiatives designed to protect women, leaving them more vulnerable than ever.
“Atrocities against women and children have increased drastically within four months of the new government,” Jagan stated, citing a recent case in Guntur where a 25-year-old woman was allegedly sexually abused. “The government has failed to create a safe environment for women in the state,” he added, placing the blame squarely on the TDP’s shoulders.
The former Chief Minister has been particularly critical of the TDP’s handling of the Disha app, a women’s protection initiative launched during his tenure. Jagan claims the TDP has rendered the app “defunct,” removing a crucial tool for women in distress. This assertion is hotly contested by the TDP, with Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha firing back that the YSRCP government failed to effectively implement the Disha Act, claiming that crimes against women were significantly higher during their tenure.
However, critics point to disturbing statistics that undermine the TDP’s claims of prioritizing women’s safety. YSRCP MLC Varudu Kalyani highlighted the fact that the Home Minister herself admitted that 49 crimes against women occur daily in Andhra Pradesh, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Even within the ruling coalition, concerns are being raised. Jana Sena Party (JSP) President Pawan Kalyan, a key ally of the TDP, has publicly criticized Home Minister Anitha over the rising crimes against women. Kalyan even suggested that he might have to take over as Home Minister himself to improve the state’s law and order situation, a clear indication of the depth of the unease within the government ranks.
As accusations and counter-accusations fly, the women of Andhra Pradesh are left to grapple with a disturbing reality: a perceived increase in violence and a political climate where their safety appears to be secondary to political maneuvering. The question remains: will the TDP government heed these warnings and take concrete steps to address the root causes of this crisis, or will women continue to pay the price for political negligence? The answer to this question will determine whether Andhra Pradesh can truly claim to be a state where women are safe and secure.
