Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Y.S. Sharmila placed under house arrest; slams Naidu government for preventing her visit to Uddandarayunipalem

Y. S. Sharmila. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y.S. Sharmila on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) slammed the Telugu Desam Party-led (TDP)-led NDA coalition government for placing her under house arrest and preventing her from going to Uddandarayunipalem village in the capital Amaravati region.

Tension prevailed at Ms. Sharmila’s house at SLV Villas in Kesarapalli on the outskirts of Vijayawada where police vans descended with a force, including a large number of women police and stood guard outside to prevent her proposed visit to the village where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit on May 2, 2025 to relaunch the Amaravati capital works.

As Ms. Sharmila stepped out of the house, the women police blocked her way, asking her not to go ahead with her visit, as it was likely to cause law and order problem. Ms. Sharmila did not heed their plea and attempted to walk forward, but she was immediately obstructed by a group of women police who surrounded her and formed a physical barrier by standing close together to cut off any possible path forward.

An irate Ms. Sharmila questioned the right of the coalition government to place her under house arrest. She said they should at least allow her to visit her party office in Vijayawada and directed the party leaders and workers to assemble there.

Speaking to the media representatives who had gathered at the place, Ms. Sharmila informed that the Congress party had constituted an Amaravati Capital Committee two days ago, with an objective to study the capital region and people’s issues there and chalk out an action plan that the party could follow. “But I fail to understand why the coalition government is afraid of the Congress committee. What are they trying to hide?” she asked.

Pointing to the fact that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the capital region on May 2, Ms. Sharmila said the Congress wanted to discuss the issues that were needed to be asked from Mr. Modi.

“Is there any prohibition on holding meetings and discussing people’s issues in Andhra Pradesh?” she asked, pointing to the police vans amidst  slogans of “police zulum down down, PM Modi down down” by her party leaders.

Taking strong exception to the women police personnel physically stopping her from moving ahead, she said it was unfortunate that the police was focussed on curbing the free movement of a political party’s woman chief, instead of putting a check on atrocities against women. “Andhra Pradesh is in third position in terms of atrocities against women,” she reminded.

She then headed to her party office in Vijayawada, along with other leaders, warning the police against any attempt to stop her or any of her party men.