Break your silence on online abuse: Poojitha

Nellore, Nov 15: YSRCP state women’s wing working president Kakani Poojitha demanded that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Nara Lokesh and Home Minister Anitha explain their silence over obscene X Spaces comments targeting former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s family. She questioned whether their refusal to condemn the remarks amounted to encouragement.
Speaking alongside women leaders after submitting a complaint to Vedayapalem police, Poojitha said complete evidence had been provided, identifying the organisers, participants and their comments. While welcoming the police’s acceptance of the complaint and issuance of an acknowledgement, she stressed that receiving a complaint was insufficient. A thorough investigation must identify everyone responsible and lead to strict legal action.
Poojitha said political criticism was welcome, including criticism of women active in politics, but nobody had the right to personally abuse women and family members unconnected with public life. Cyberbullying inflicted severe psychological distress on women, young people and children. Allowing social media to become a platform for character assassination undermined women’s dignity and set a damaging example for future generations. Preventing such harassment was the responsibility of the government and police.
Despite newspaper reports and television discussions, coalition leaders had not issued even a statement condemning the abuse, she said. If those responsible belonged to their parties, leaders must restrain them and take action; otherwise, they should publicly disassociate their parties from the remarks. Silence while supporters invoked their names raised questions about political backing.
YSRCP members would not be intimidated, Poojitha said. The complaint sought to ensure that nobody else faced similar harassment. She demanded an unequivocal response from coalition leaders, strict police action and condemnation of cyberbullying across political lines.