Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], January 28 : YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajeev on Wednesday slammed the Jana Sena MLA from Railway Kodur, Arava Sridhar, following sexual harassment allegations made by a woman government employee.
In a self-made video, Rajeev said that the incident has shaken the conscience of the entire state and it reflects the lack of safety of women in the state.
"We strongly condemn the actions of ruling party Janasena MLA Arav Sridhar, which have shaken the conscience of the entire state. A government employee has been subjected to repeated sexual assault, mental torture, threats, and forced abortions over the past one and a half years, yet the government has remained silent. This is not just a crime; it reflects the lack of safety for women in the state, where the police machinery is being used to harass the victims," the YSRCP leader said.
Meanwhile, a case has been registered against Arava Sridhar following sexual harassment allegations made by a woman government employee, who has accused the legislator of subjecting her to sustained harassment and abuse for nearly one-and-a-half years, police said on Wednesday.
According to the complaint, the woman alleged that Sridhar deceived her with false promises of marriage and subjected her to physical abuse and harassment over a prolonged period.
Responding to the allegations against her son, Sridhar's mother, Prameela, denied the charges and levelled counter-allegations against the complainant. She claimed that the woman got close to her son by using their caste identity as a pretext and gradually began visiting their house frequently.
Prameela further alleged that the woman made phone calls at all hours, day and night, and later blackmailed her son by insisting on marriage.
Meanwhile, the issue sparked a sharp political reaction, with YSR Congress Party Women's Wing State President and MLC Varudu Kalyani condemning the alleged actions of the Jana Sena MLA.
Addressing the mediapersons at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Kalyani accused the coalition government of failing to protect women and allowing ruling party MLAs to act with impunity.
Kalyani alleged that the survivor had spoken of being trapped, repeatedly raped, threatened, assaulted, and mentally tortured for nearly one-and-a-half years.
She further claimed that the woman was forced into abortions and terrorised with threats to her child, stating that the emergence of videos related to the case had shocked the state and exposed what she described as coalition leaders "playing with women's lives."