Denied entry to seminar, TDP, JSP women leaders clash with police in Vijayawada

VIJAYAWADA: Tension prevailed at Gandhi Nagar in Vijayawada on Wednesday after women leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) attempted to barge into a seminar. Trouble broke out when the women leaders of the two opposition parties were prevented by the police from attending the seminar on ‘Social Media-Attacks on Women’, held under the supervision of Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission Chairperson Vasireddy Padma at Hotel Ilapuram.

Irked over by the police behavior, Telugu Mahila State President Vangalapudi Anitha and Jana Sena Party (JSP) women leaders tried to barge into the venue. However, the posse of police deployed there foiled their attempt. A heated exchange took place between Anitha and the police over the denial of entry to the seminar.

“How can the police prevent them from attending a seminar on ‘Social Media-Attacks on Women’?” Vangalapudi Anitha wondered. JSP leader Ganta Swarupa said that only 200 participants were allowed for the seminar and most of them belonged to the YSRCP. She alleged that the State Government was gagging the voice of opposition parties by not allowing them the opportunity to highlight the failures of the YSRCP regime regarding attacks on women and safety.

However, with the situation going out of control, the police relented and allowed TDP and Jana Sena women leaders to participate in the seminar. Vangalapudi Anitha, along with other leaders, submitted a memorandum to Vasireddy Padma, seeking action against those posting morphed pictures of TDP women leaders on social media platforms.