Mangalagiri, June 30: Former Minister and YSRCP leader Gudivada Amarnath said he appeared before the Andhra Pradesh Women's Commission out of respect for the Constitution, the law, and democratic institutions, asserting that he had committed no wrongdoing and stood firmly by his remarks. Speaking to the media after appearing before the Commission, Amarnath said he answered all three questions raised by the Chairperson and also brought to the Commission's attention the repeated derogatory remarks made by Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha against former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, YSRCP leaders, and members of his family. He clarified that his "make-up minister" remark was political satire directed at the Home Minister's functioning and not at women in general, adding that his criticism referred to her neglect of her responsibilities as Home Minister while focusing on political activities. He also explained that his reference to the bulletproof vehicle was meant to highlight that Anitha now occupies the ministerial position he once held. He reiterated that he would not respond to imaginary interpretations created by TDP leaders but remained committed to every word he had spoken.
Amarnath questioned why the Home Minister remained silent over crimes against women and children, missing children, attacks on women public representatives, and the deteriorating law-and-order situation, while choosing to create political controversy over his remarks. He said he was raised by his mother after losing his father at the age of 15, belongs to a family led by women, and is the father of two daughters, making it unnecessary for anyone to teach him how to respect women. He warned that YSRCP would respond firmly to abusive personal attacks in the future and asserted that the coalition government's tenure was nearing its end, expressing confidence that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's proposed padayatra would mark the beginning of the coalition's political downfall.
YSRCP Women's Wing State President Varudu Kalyani criticized the Women's Commission for acting selectively, stating that it responded immediately to Amarnath's remarks while ignoring complaints involving ruling coalition leaders. She questioned the Commission's silence over crimes against women, attacks on women public representatives, and the state's worsening record on crimes against women, urging it to summon Home Minister Anitha before taking action against others. Araku MP Gumma Tanuja Rani said the large number of women who accompanied Amarnath reflected public confidence that he had committed no wrongdoing and criticized the Commission for what she described as a one-sided approach. Party spokesperson Are Shyamala said the Commission had issued notices to Amarnath despite his not using abusive language, while failing to act on complaints previously submitted against several TDP leaders with supporting evidence. She asserted that women across Andhra Pradesh viewed the Home Minister's performance as a failure and would deliver their verdict in 2029.
*YS Jagan to visit Bhimavaram on June 15*
