Amravati, November 14 : A crackdown on social media activists in Andhra Pradesh has ignited protests within the state's Legislative Council, led by the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
The issue surfaced in the Council on Thursday, with YSRCP members staging a strong protest against the state government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The YSRCP raised the issue at the start of the session, condemning the arrests of their social media activists across the state. When the Chairman declined their request for a debate, the YSRCP members entered the Well of the House, raising slogans such as “we want justice” and “save democracy.”
Leader of the Opposition Botcha Satyanarayana urged the Chairman to permit an adjournment motion, but it was rejected, prompting further protest.
YSRCP members displayed posters alleging defamatory social media posts by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders against YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family. In response, Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu criticized the YSRCP for their protest, questioning their support of posts allegedly offensive even to Jagan's family.
The arrests, according to YSRCP, involved charges against 680 activists, 147 legal cases, and 49 arrests for derogatory social media content about CM Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and their families.
YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the crackdown, accusing the government of suppressing free speech on social media and highlighting what he called a deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state, with serious incidents of crime reported.
