Jagan Reddy attacks TDP, flags rising crime against women in Andhra

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday visited the families of two young women who were brutally murdered in the Guntur and Kadapa districts. During these visits, Jagan slammed the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government for its failure to maintain law and order, especially in protecting women from such crimes.
YS Jagan Reddy expressed deep concern over the “alarming rise” in violent incidents in Andhra Pradesh, particularly crimes against women, and demanded immediate action from the government to provide justice and compensation.
“Within just four and a half months of TDP rule, 77 rapes, seven murders, and five suicides had been reported. Despite this, the government had done little to address the surge in violence or hold the perpetrators accountable,” Jagan Reddy said.
A 25-year-old woman died under suspicious circumstances after being assaulted by Naveen, a well-known rowdy sheeter, following a financial dispute in Guntur district.
In Kadapa, a 16-year-old girl died after she was set on fire by her ex-boyfriend following repeated marriage proposals by the teen who was already married.
YSRCP has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each of the victims’ families, with Jagan Reddy urging the Chandrababu Naidu-led party to match this financial assistance.
The former Chief Minister also voiced his concern over the increasing number of atrocities against women, including rapes, murders, and suicides, that have occurred during the Telugu Desam Party’s governance.
He also accused the ruling party of shielding its members involved in such heinous acts.
“The government must offer immediate financial aid to the victims’ families and ministers should personally visit them to offer apologies and assurances that such crimes would not be repeated,” the YSRCP chief said.
The government’s failure to take decisive action sends a dangerous signal that crimes, especially those committed by those in power, can be covered up. This undermines public trust in the state’s ability to provide safety and justice,” he added.
Jagan Reddy also highlighted the success of the ‘Disha’ initiative launched during his tenure, which he said had been instrumental in ensuring women’s safety.
“The Disha app, a safety tool for women, had enabled the police to respond within five minutes of an SOS alert. With over 1.56 crore downloads, the app had helped save more than 31,000 women and girls across the state and won 19 national awards for excellence in policing,” he said.