The spread of unauthorized trade in belts is responsible for the “increase in crimes”, says YSRCP leader Taneti Vanitha. | Photo credit: File Photo
Former home minister and YSRCP president Taneti Vanitha claimed that the law and order situation, especially women’s safety, had deteriorated in Andhra Pradesh during the tenure of the coalition government.
Speaking to the media in Gopalapuram on Saturday, she claimed that after the change of guards in the state in 2024, crime against women and children, especially sexual offences, has increased.
Referring to the recent incident reported from Macherla in Palnadu district, the YSRCP leader described the alleged knife-point rape attempt on a government employee as “heinous”. “Even women living alone in their homes are not safe,” she said.
She claimed the incident was under the influence of alcohol and blamed the “increase in crime” on the proliferation of liquor and unauthorized strip shops.
She also linked the availability of ganja to an increase in criminal activity.
Questioning Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, Ms. Vanitha asked why they had not responded strongly to repeated cases of crimes against women.
She claimed that the police were not registering the complaints of the victims and were “targeting the leaders of the opposition parties”.
The former home minister claimed that during the YSRCP tenure, women felt protected and police standards were higher. She demanded immediate justice for Macherla’s victim and severe punishment for the accused.
Published – 04 Apr 2026 18:57 IST
