Are laws different for ruling MLAs?: MLC Varudu Kalyani

Tadepalli, Jan 28: YSRCP Women’s Wing State President and MLC Varudu Kalyani strongly condemned the government for shielding JanaSena Railway Koduru MLA Arava Sridhar, asking whether laws apply only to opposition leaders and not to coalition MLAs. Speaking at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, she said it was shocking that even after more than 24 hours of a woman government employee coming forward with audio and video evidence of one-and-a-half years of rape, threats, physical assault, and intimidation by the MLA, the police have not even registered a case. She questioned why immediate arrests are made when YSRCP workers celebrate YS Jagan’s birthday, but a serious sexual violence complaint against a ruling coalition MLA is being ignored.
Varudu Kalyani criticised Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan trying to protect the MLA by announcing a party leaders’ committee instead of allowing the police and courts to act, and questioned whether he has lost faith in the legal system. She stated that the move was aimed at delaying action and preparing the ground to turn the victim into an accused. She recalled recent incidents where women who complained against those close to ministers were instead targeted with cases, and demanded that a case be immediately registered against Arava Sridhar and that he be arrested without delay.
She further demanded that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Home Minister Anitha, the Speaker, and the Women’s Commission respond immediately and ensure justice. She also called for legal action against the son of Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani, whose gambling videos went viral, stating that ministers, MLAs, and their families are repeatedly being linked to crimes against women. Varudu Kalyani said that the coalition government’s failure to punish even one major offender over the past 20 months has emboldened leaders to commit atrocities, while police machinery is being misused only to harass YSRCP leaders. She asserted that YSRCP will continue to fight until justice is delivered to the victim and strict action is taken against all those responsible.