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.

Andhra Pradesh BJP spokesperson Sheikh Baji demands Congress clarify its stand, accuses party leadership of double standards on women's empowerment

AMARAVATI, April 15: As the Women's Reservation Bill came up for discussion in Parliament on Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh BJP State spokesperson Sheikh Baji launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of indulging in what he termed "duplicitous politics" on the question of women's representation in legislative bodies.

Addressing mediapersons here, Mr. Baji demanded that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spell out their party's unambiguous position on the Bill, asserting that a party which claims to champion women's rights cannot afford to remain equivocal on a matter of such constitutional significance.

The BJP spokesperson credited the Central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with demonstrating a sustained commitment to women's empowerment through concrete policy measures. He pointed to the elevation of Droupadi Murmu to the office of President — the highest constitutional post in the country — and the continuing tenure of Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister as evidence of the ruling dispensation's confidence in women's leadership and capability.

Mr. Baji also cited the allocation of 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions as a structural reform that had laid the groundwork for inclusive rural governance. Greater participation of women at the grassroots level, he argued, had demonstrable effects on rural education, economic activity, and skill development — ultimately stemming migration and accelerating regional growth.

Invoking the government's guiding principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas," he underscored that no vision of national development could be complete without ensuring meaningful representation for women across all tiers of governance.

The spokesperson also drew attention to the expanding role of women in the armed forces, commending the service of women officers and invoking historical figures such as Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Rani Rudramadevi of the Kakatiya dynasty as enduring symbols of feminine resolve and leadership that continue to inspire generations.

Mr. Baji concluded by calling upon all political parties and civil society to extend wholehearted support to the Women's Reservation Bill, describing it as an instrument indispensable to the country's broader democratic and developmental aspirations.

Andhra Pradesh unit calls comments "incendiary," accuses Congress of stoking communal tension

AMARAVATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded an unconditional public apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over remarks the party described as communally provocative and unbecoming of a senior national leader.

Sheikh Baji, official spokesperson of the Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP, said Mr. Kharge had drawn an analogy during a recent meeting in which he allegedly likened the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP to a snake obstructing a worshipper mid-namaz — suggesting they be treated accordingly. Mr. Baji said the remarks, which have since circulated widely, amounted to an incitement to violence.

"It is deeply unfortunate that the president of a national political party, who bears a responsibility to uphold the unity and integrity of this country, should resort to language that inflames communal passions."

— Sheikh Baji, BJP AP spokesperson

The BJP spokesperson further alleged that the Congress party had, over successive decades, pursued a deliberate strategy of exploiting caste and religious fault lines for electoral advantage. He accused the party of attempting to divide society along sectarian lines at a time when national cohesion demanded restraint from political leaders of all persuasions.

Mr. Baji demanded that Mr. Kharge retract the remarks without delay and apologise to the people of India. He also called upon the Congress leadership to put in place safeguards to ensure that similar statements were not repeated in future.

The Congress party had not, at the time of filing this report, issued any response to the BJP's demands.

BJP State spokesperson Sheikh Baji calls on cadre to intensify grassroots outreach as party marks four-and-a-half decades of political journey

AMARAVATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party's 47th Foundation Day was marked in Andhra Pradesh with renewed pledges of service to the nation's poor, as state party spokesperson Sheikh Baji extended greetings to workers and leaders across the state and reiterated the party's core mission of inclusive development.

In a statement issued on Monday, Mr. Baji said the BJP had remained unwavering in its twin objectives of national service and the welfare of the underprivileged. "Service to the nation is our purpose, and the development of the poor is our goal," he said, encapsulating what he described as the party's foundational ethos.

The spokesperson highlighted the developmental momentum generated by the Central government's welfare schemes, asserting that both rural and urban areas had witnessed accelerated progress through targeted policy implementation. He added that the government remained committed to ensuring that basic infrastructure and amenities reached every household across the country.

Mr. Baji further noted that the BJP had played a pivotal role in improving the living standards of the people and that concerted efforts were under way to position India as a leading nation on the global stage.

Calling upon party workers to redouble their efforts at the village level, he urged cadre to engage more actively in strengthening the organisation from the ground up. He extended his congratulations to all leaders and workers of the party on the occasion of the Foundation Day.