Vijayawada, April 23: Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and its allies for what he described as their duplicitous stance on the Women's Reservation Bill, asserting that the Modi government remained firmly committed to ensuring 33 per cent representation for women in legislative bodies by 2029.

Addressing a press conference organised under the banner of 'Jana Akrosh' in Vijayawada, along with NDA alliance leaders, the Minister said that the enactment of the 'Nari Shakti Vandanam' legislation stood as testimony to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering commitment to women's empowerment. He recalled that successive governments over the past three decades had reduced women's reservation to a mere electoral promise, whereas the Modi government, since 2014, had pursued the matter with sincerity and resolve.

Bhupatiraju said the credit for introducing and securing passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in 2023 belonged entirely to the NDA government under Modi's leadership. He alleged that when the amendment bill to implement the 33 per cent reservation from 2029 was placed before Parliament, the Congress and its allies obstructed it with various pretexts, defeating it by a margin of merely 54 votes. He described this as a betrayal of the aspirations of women across the country, and accused parties with patriarchal ideologies of conspiring to prevent women from advancing politically.

Dismissing opposition claims that southern States were being shortchanged, the Minister argued that it was precisely the failure to pass the amendment bill that was causing grave injustice to the southern States, and urged opposition parties to recognise this reality and extend their support. He explained that the Modi government was undertaking the delimitation process with the objective of implementing women's reservation by the 2029 elections, well ahead of 2034, and that a population-based reorganisation of constituencies would ensure equal opportunities for all regions and women alike. He noted that women currently constituted only 12.6 per cent of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, and stressed that reservations were indispensable to improve this figure.

TDP leader Gadde Anuradha, who also addressed the gathering, held the neglect of previous governments responsible for India's poor ranking in global indices of women's empowerment. Jana Sena leader Potireddy Sunitha said that genuine development was possible only when women entered decision-making roles, and affirmed that the alliance government in the State was committed to that goal.

Among those present were BJP State General Secretary Lakshmi Prasanna, Mahila Morcha President Nishidha Raju, and Media In-charge Kilari Dileep, among others.

Vijayawada, April 23: Union Minister Bhupatiraju Srinivasa Varma on Thursday felicitated Uppalapati Srinivasaraju, BJP State Office Secretary, on his election as a member of the Andhra Pradesh Bar Council, at the BJP State office in Vijayawada.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister expressed confidence that Uppalapati Srinivasaraju would render exemplary service in the interests of advocates' welfare and the preservation of professional values in his capacity as a Bar Council member. He expressed hope that the latter would play a pivotal role in addressing the issues and grievances faced by the legal fraternity.

The Minister observed that it was commendable that Srinivasaraju had been accorded the opportunity to serve on a prestigious platform such as the Bar Council, and called upon him to work effectively for the protection of advocates' rights and welfare.

Among those who participated in the programme were BJP State General Secretary Nagotu Ramesh Naidu, State Spokesperson Sheikh Baji, Media Department State Coordinator Kilaru Dilip, and NTR District President Adduri Sriram, among others.

Vijayawada, April 23: Representatives of the Andhra Pradesh JAC (Joint Action Committee) Amaravati State Committee on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Anil Chandra Punita, the newly appointed State Election Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, at the State Election Commission office in Vijayawada, and extended their greetings to him.

Speaking on the occasion, AP JAC Amaravati State Chairman Bopparaju Venkateswarlu assured the Commissioner of the employees' full cooperation in the successful conduct of the local body elections scheduled to be held in the near future. He urged the Election Commission to take proactive measures to ensure that employees deputed for election duty did not face any difficulties in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The delegation suggested that transparency and efficiency in the conduct of local body elections must be accompanied by due attention to the welfare of the employees involved in the process. They expressed the view that providing adequate facilities to personnel engaged in election duty would contribute to a smoother conduct of the electoral process overall.

Among those who participated in the programme were AP JAC Amaravati State Committee Secretary General Palishetty Damodar Rao, AP Revenue Services Association General Secretary Ramishetty Venkata Rajesh, State Secretary Rajinikanth Reddy, RTC Employees Union State General Secretary G.V. Narsaiah, and State Government Outsourcing Employees Association State Organising Secretary Keshav, among others.

Vijayawada, April 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party's NTR District unit conducted a Janata Varadhi programme at the NTR District Collectorate on Monday, receiving petitions from the public on a range of civic and welfare issues, and subsequently submitted a memorandum to the District Collector urging the immediate operationalisation of defunct solid and liquid waste management units across the district.

The programme, organised under the leadership of BJYM NTR District president Sivakrishna Reddy, received petitions from aggrieved citizens on issues including widow pensions, old-age pensions and allotment of house sites. The complaints were duly recorded and forwarded to the concerned officials, with a demand for prompt redressal.

Later, BJP NTR District president Adduri Sriram, along with district general secretaries Ganesh and Govind, submitted a separate petition to the Collector drawing attention to the non-functional state of solid and liquid waste management units across the district. The leaders urged the administration to activate these units without delay, underlining their importance for both environmental protection and public health security. They demanded that the official machinery respond immediately and take necessary remedial measures.

The programme was attended by Yuva Morcha vice-president Jyothirmayi, general secretaries Sai and Chanakya, secretary Sanjay, treasurer Gayatri, mandal presidents Chaitanya, Nagadurga and Sreenu, and party workers Karthik, Yashwini, Harsith and Meghanath, among others.

Vijayawada, April 20: The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and its allies for opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, announcing a series of NDA protest programmes across the State later this month.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office in Vijayawada, party State general secretary Nagotu Ramesh Naidu accused Congress and its allies — the Trinamool Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Samajwadi Party — of collectively blocking legislation that sought to ensure equal political representation for women. "They are celebrating this obstruction as though it were a great victory," he said.

Mr. Naidu recalled that the Congress-led UPA government had, during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi, enacted special legislation in the Shah Bano case overriding a Supreme Court ruling. He further noted that while Sonia Gandhi had successfully steered the Women's Reservation Bill through the Rajya Sabha, the party failed to bring it to a vote in the Lok Sabha. He accused the Congress of using Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to play what he termed a "Shikandi role" in obstructing the bill.

Asserting that delimitation must not be carried out on the basis of population ratios alone, Mr. Naidu said the BJP remained committed to reintroducing the Women's Reservation Bill and securing its passage. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards making women equal partners in the nation's development, and no obstacle will deter that goal," he said.

The party announced a series of protest events across Andhra Pradesh. On April 24, a demonstration will be held in Vijayawada with BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav, Minister Kandula Durgesh and TDP State president Palla Srinivasarao as chief guests. A parallel protest will be organised in Rajamahendravari under the leadership of MP Daggubati Purandeswari on the same day.

On April 25, Union Minister of State Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma will participate in protests at Tirupati, while a separate programme is scheduled in Kurnool.

BJP NTR District president Adduri Sriram was also present at the press conference.

Amaravati, April 17: State Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday strongly condemned the remarks made by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Parliament during the debate on the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, demanding that Gandhi immediately retract his statements and offer an unconditional apology to the people of the country.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office in Vijayawada, the Minister said it was deeply irresponsible of Gandhi to mock Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when Parliament was engaged in a crucial debate on women's empowerment. He described Gandhi's references to the Prime Minister as a "jadugar" and a "magician" as unworthy of a Leader of Opposition, and said his remarks undermining the country's military strength were wholly unacceptable.

Satya Kumar Yadav said Prime Minister Modi's leadership had been clearly visible in enhancing India's stature on the international stage and in driving national development. He asserted that the Central government's decisions on national security and military strength had made India significantly more powerful, pointing in particular to the firm stance adopted against Pakistan in bolstering the country's defence.

The Minister said Congress party's opposition to the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill had laid bare the party's true attitude towards women's empowerment. He added that the Central government's transparent and corruption-free governance continued to enjoy strong public support.

On the delimitation issue, Satya Kumar Yadav said the increase in parliamentary seats following the census was intended to ensure justice for southern States, with the possibility of up to a 50 per cent increase in seats for the south. He criticised the Congress for having fostered a sense of division between northern and southern States during its tenure in power.

The Minister said the BJP would welcome support from any party for decisions aimed at women's development and national progress.

Vijayawada, April 17: The Central government is taking concrete steps towards the liberation and social development of Denotified Tribes (DNTs), with a firm commitment to erasing the colonial-era criminal stigma attached to these communities and mainstreaming them into society, said DNT Board members Praveen Guge and Bharat Bhai Patni on Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office here, they said the SEED scheme would play a pivotal role in the development of approximately 80 lakh DNT community members in Andhra Pradesh. They expressed concern over the inordinate delays in the issuance of DNT certificates in the State.

The DNT Board members suggested that the Gujarat model be replicated in Andhra Pradesh, with the process of issuing certificates being expedited through District Collectors. They demanded that welfare schemes be extended to all communities identified by the Idate Commission and called for the immediate constitution of a dedicated DNT Development Board in the State.

They also urged the State government to go beyond issuing house pattas on paper and ensure that land is physically handed over to beneficiaries without further delay. They indicated that these issues would be taken up directly with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the State Chief Secretary.

The BJP leaders announced that a special event, 'Vimukta Dinotsavam', would be organised exclusively for DNT communities. They assured that the BJP OBC Morcha would stand firmly behind these communities at the district level in safeguarding their rights.

Among those present at the event were OBC Morcha State president Rongala Gopi Srinivas, former NTDNTDT convener Arabolu Chandrashekhar, leaders Annapureddy Venkat and Gorantla Srinivas, BJP State media in-charge Kilaru Dilip, OBC Coastal Andhra zonal in-charge Tullimilli Ramakrishna Yadav, and OBC State secretary Shivalalitha.

VIJAYAWADA, April 16: State Minister for Medical, Health and Family Welfare Y. Satyakumar Yadav on Thursday stressed that timely medical intervention in the critical first hour following a road accident could significantly improve the chances of saving lives, and called for collective responsibility in making Andhra Pradesh a accident-free State.

The Minister was speaking at a State-level stakeholders' consultation on the PM RAHAT — Pradhan Mantri Road Accident Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment — scheme, held at the Dr. NTR Health University auditorium here. He described the Central government's scheme as playing a pivotal role in ensuring that accident victims receive emergency medical care without financial burden, offering cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.50 lakh with no requirement of advance payment.

Underlining the need for seamless coordination among all departments for the effective implementation of the scheme across the State, the Minister called upon hospitals, ambulance services, police, and other concerned agencies to work in close tandem to ensure that victims receive immediate assistance. He directed officials to create widespread public awareness about the scheme and emphasised that every hospital must have a thorough understanding of its provisions.

Expressing concern over the toll that road accidents take on families, the Minister noted that the loss of a breadwinner not only devastates a household financially but also jeopardises the future of children. He identified overspeeding, reckless driving, drunk driving, black spots on roads, and vehicles crossing dividers unexpectedly as the primary causes of accidents in the State.

The Minister said that the Golden Hour protocol was being effectively implemented through the 108 ambulance service, with the success rate of saving lives during the critical first hour having improved considerably compared to earlier. He also highlighted the ongoing implementation of the STEMI programme for cardiac emergencies, through which thousands of lives had been saved. He further informed that 14 Critical Care Blocks had been constructed across the State, with work on additional blocks under way.

18,380 Road Accidents Recorded in 2025

Medical and Health Department Principal Secretary Saurabh Gaur revealed that approximately 18,380 road accidents were recorded in the State in 2025, the majority of which occurred on National and State Highways and major roads. Overspeeding was identified as the primary cause, accounting for 79 per cent of all accidents, with wrong-side driving, drunk driving, and mobile phone use also cited as significant contributing factors. The highest number of accidents were recorded between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., he said.

He added that the government was integrating public and private hospitals to ensure emergency medical care during the Golden Hour, and that Trauma Care Centres were being established at every 100-kilometre interval to improve accessibility of medical services.

130 Black Spots Identified in NTR District

NTR District Collector Dr. G. Lakshmisha said that approximately 130 accident-prone black spots had been identified in the district, with special measures being taken at 27 critical locations. The district administration has set a target of reducing accidents by 50 per cent over the next year. He also spoke of efforts to encourage Good Samaritans — citizens who voluntarily transport accident victims to hospitals — and said that monthly road safety committee meetings were being held to strengthen inter-departmental coordination.

The event was attended by Traffic DCP N. Suryachandraro, Joint Transport Commissioner S. Venkateswara Rao, Director of Medical Education Dr. Raghanandana Rao, and representatives of various hospitals.

VIJAYAWADA, April 16: State Minister for Medical and Health Sri Satyakumar Yadav on Thursday called upon government medical colleges to work towards securing rankings under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), asserting that such recognition would lend them a distinct identity and enhance their standing in the academic world.

The Minister was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the Disease Monitoring and Decision Making Centre (DMDMC) at the NTR University of Health Sciences here, a facility being set up at a cost of Rs. 6 crore. He urged faculty and administrators to strive for the publication of research papers by State medical professionals in internationally reputed journals such as The Lancet.

Expressing concern over the lack of visible progress on the ground, the Minister noted that despite administrative approval orders having been issued for the development of teaching hospitals at an outlay of nearly Rs. 4,000 crore, tangible action remained elusive. He called upon hospital superintendents and college principals to act in a coordinated manner and take necessary steps without further delay. He also urged them to systematically harness the support being offered by alumni who are coming forward to contribute to the development of their alma mater. He stressed the need for continuous efforts to implement the 30-point agenda announced by the Medical and Health Department.

Suicides in Medical Colleges Must Be Prevented

State Medical and Health Department Principal Secretary Saurabh Gaur, addressing the gathering, urged principals of medical colleges to ensure that no student deaths by suicide occur on their campuses. Noting that there are approximately 7,000 faculty members across government and private medical colleges combined, he called upon each of them to closely observe and counsel at least 10 to 20 students, monitoring their behaviour and mental well-being. He informed that renowned psychiatrist Dr. Aparna is conducting special training programmes specifically targeting first-year MBBS students who are under stress.

The DMDMC will function under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) within the purview of the Director of Public Health. The advanced technology at the centre will enable early detection of disease outbreaks at the district, mandal, and village levels, facilitating timely preventive action. The centre is also to be linked with the Advanced Warning Advisory for Resilient Ecosystem (AWARE) system, officials said.

The NTR Health University has already disbursed Rs. 10 lakh each to government medical colleges in Kurnool, Tirupati, and Visakhapatnam for the development of sports grounds to encourage student participation in athletics.

The university was also asked to initiate post-doctoral fellowship courses in the field of fertility. University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Chandrashekhar, Registrar Sai Sudhir, and Dr. Lakshmi Suryaprabha announced that new courses including BSc in Family Emergency Medicine and Forensic Nursing are to be introduced in medical colleges. Plans are also afoot to launch Biophysics courses in collaboration with IIT Chennai and IIT New Delhi. They requested that regulatory hurdles, including FCRA-related restrictions on receiving funds from abroad, be eased to facilitate construction and development work at teaching hospitals in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and other centres.

Cheques Presented to Andhra and Kakinada Medical Colleges

Minister Satyakumar presented cheques of Rs. 10 lakh each to the principals of Andhra Medical College and Kakinada Medical College, Dr. Sandhyarani and Dr. Vishnuvardhan respectively, for undertaking sports infrastructure development on their campuses.

The Minister also inaugurated a 100 KW rooftop solar panel installation atop the NTR Health University building, set up under the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of Canara Bank.

VIJAYAWADA, April 15: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Delhi Local Advisory Committee Chairman Y. Sumant Reddy, accompanied by senior TTD officials, called on Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav at the BJP State office here on Wednesday and extended a formal invitation to him to attend the Srivari Brahmotsavams to be held in New Delhi.

The grand religious festival at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Devasthanam in the national capital is scheduled to be held from April 30 to May 10, and elaborate arrangements are being made to ensure that the celebrations are conducted with utmost grandeur and devotion, the TTD officials said.

During the meeting, discussions were also held regarding the preparations under way for the prestigious event. The Brahmotsavams in New Delhi are expected to draw large numbers of devotees from across the country, reflecting the enduring reverence for Lord Venkateswara among people of all regions.

Madhav received the invitation warmly and appreciated the TTD's efforts in organising the sacred festival in the national capital. The meeting was attended by TTD officials and local BJP leaders.

VIJAYAWADA, April 15: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav on Wednesday released posters for the upcoming Samarasata Marathon — branded as the 3K Run — to be held in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, along with posters for kabaddi and volleyball competitions scheduled in Tirupati, at the State party office here.

The events are being organised under the aegis of the BJP's Scheduled Caste Morcha, and Madhav took the occasion to commend the Morcha's leadership for their sustained efforts across the State. He described the programmes as praiseworthy initiatives aimed at fostering the values of social harmony and nationalism in society.

Rallying public participation for the 3K Run, which carries the slogan "Samarasata in our breath, nationalism in our stride," Madhav urged citizens to turn out in large numbers. He elaborated that the marathon was being conducted with the resolve of "one step towards harmony, every step towards unity."

The organisers said the primary objective of the Samarasata Run is to affirm that all Indians are one, transcending distinctions of caste and religion. The sports competitions, they added, were being held with the aim of identifying and nurturing talent among the youth, with the belief that sports build physical strength and mental resilience.

The event was attended by Kisan Morcha State president Kumar Swamy, Minority Morcha State president Syed Bhasha, SC Morcha district president Sarvasiddhi Raju, and other senior party leaders.

VIJAYAWADA, April 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party observed the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at its State headquarters here on Tuesday, with senior party leaders garlanding a portrait of the jurist-statesman and offering floral tributes in his memory.

Addressing the gathering, BJP SC Morcha State president Pantala Suresh said that the party, under State president P.V.N. Madhav, was organising a series of service programmes across Andhra Pradesh to mark the occasion. He emphasised that Ambedkar was not a leader confined to any caste, religion, or region, but a universal leader whose ideology transcended all boundaries. The BJP, he said, would remain at the forefront of carrying that message to the people.

Mr. Suresh said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government had been working in consonance with Ambedkar's ideals, ensuring dignity and opportunity for the most marginalised sections of society. He invoked the principle of Antyodaya — welfare reaching the last person in the social order — as the defining spirit of the Modi government's approach to governance. In this context, he described the Prime Minister as a "nava yuga Ambedkar" — an Ambedkar for the new age.

He added that in Andhra Pradesh, the NDA government under Mr. Madhav's leadership had drawn up a specific action plan for the development of weaker and disadvantaged communities, and that the BJP would always remain committed to the pursuit of social justice.

Among those present were BJP State general secretary Boddu Nagalakshmi, District president Adduri Sriram, Minority Morcha State president Syed Basha, State spokesperson Sheikh Baji, and party leaders Padmaja, Kambhampati Madhavi, Kolapalli Ganesh, Paila Suresh, and Muvvala Venkata Subbayya.