MP Vijay Sai Reddy Calls On Dalit Victims Of Jerripothulavaripalem, Demands Arrest Of TDP MP

The YSRCP on Sunday demanded stern action against TDP MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy and his son Appala Naidu for attacking and molesting Dalit women, who opposed their land grab.

YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Sai Reddy on Sunday called on the victims at Jerripothulavaripalem and consoled them. She also assured the villagers that efforts would be made to ensure that Praja Sankalpa Yatra passes through the village. He assured the villagers that the YSRCP would stand by them and fight for their rights. He also gave a financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the victim on behalf of the YSRCP. YSRCP leaders Meruga Nagarjuna, Gudivada Amarnath, Malla Vijayaprasad, S Vijayakumar and V Kalyani accompanied the MP.

It may be recalled that on December 18, a Dalit woman was beaten and stripped by some persons said to be the supporters of MLA Bandaru Satyanarayana, when she objected to laying of foundation stone on a disputed land in Jerripothulapalem area under the Pendurthi police station limits in Vizag.

Though the Opposition YSRCP, civil society organisations, rights bodies and Dalit groups have strongly criticised the molestation, neither the TDP MLA nor the MP came to console the Dalits in general and the woman in particular.

Meanwhile, bowing to pressure from the Opposition YSRCP, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on December 22 has directed Visakhapatnam district collector to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The Government had also announced Rs 1 lakh to the molested woman and Rs 25000 to another woman. The women rejected the officer and said that money cannot be a substitute to the lost honour.