The Telugu Desam Party-led National Democratic Alliance government in Andhra Pradesh has begun a crackdown on the social media activists of the YSR Congress party for their alleged abusive comments against the political rivals, including chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his cabinet colleagues and their family members.
Even as YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has raised a hue and cry over the arrests of his party’s social media activists, his own sister and Andhra Congress president Y S Sharmila also targeted his social media activists for targeting women and making vulgar comments against them.
On Friday, it was the turn of former YSRCP spokesperson and ex-AP Mahila Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma to raise her voice against the YSRCP social media. She lodged a complaint with the National Commission for Women asking its intervention.
In her letter, Padma said it is unfortunate that anti-social elements have taken advantage of these advancements to commit malicious acts like trolling, morphing, and other forms of online harassment against women.
“In Andhra Pradesh, the current situation has reached an alarming level, where prominent women in political positions, including the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, other ministers, and their families, are facing relentless harassment on social media,” she said.
Padma said this toxic environment poses a grave obstacle for women aspiring to hold positions of leadership in politics, as well as for those venturing into social and public service fields.
She said the prevailing legislative framework in our country is inadequate in providing swift and stringent actions against these harmful anti-social elements. The current laws lack the required strength and efficacy to deal with the seriousness of such offenses.
“I humbly appeal that all institutions, including the Government, Judiciary, and National Commission for Women, deliberate on the need to revamp and strengthen existing laws. This also necessitates the formulation of new and effective legal provisions that safeguard the freedom and dignity of women across all domains, promoting their upliftment and empowerment,” she said.
She asked the NCW to consider reviewing the existing legislative provisions established by the Hon’ble Supreme Court concerning social media harassment.
“In addition, I request NCW to initiate a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Hon’ble Supreme Court to call for the enactment of new laws that will more effectively counter such online harassment, ensuring a safer digital space for all women,” Padma added.