In a scathing attack on the previous government led by Chandrababu Naidu, the President of YSR Congress Party and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy described the tenure as a “dark era” for women’s empowerment in the state. He accused Naidu’s administration of failing to deliver on promises made during elections, particularly those aimed at uplifting women and enhancing their autonomy.
Jagan Mohan Reddy took to social media platform ‘X’ to express his grievances, stating that the current state of affairs is nothing short of “Dushasana Parvam,” a term that signifies misgovernance and chaos. He criticized Naidu for exhibiting a lack of qualifications to even mention the term “women’s empowerment,” given that not a single promise made during the election was fulfilled.
Over the past three days, Jagan alleged that Naidu’s government has staged three dramas for the public, including one in the assembly and another involving the same MLA who wears a disguise. He mockingly referred to the events surrounding International Women’s Day as yet another performance orchestrated by Naidu. The former Chief Minister challenged Naidu directly, questioning whether he has any right to speak of women’s empowerment when his administration has failed to implement any of the commitments made to women before the elections.
Among the unfulfilled promises, Jagan pointed out the “Super Six” and “Super Seven” schemes, which were meant to provide financial assistance to women aged 19-59. Promised monthly payments of ₹1,500 per woman would have amounted to ₹54,000 over three years for the eligible population of approximately 1.8 crore women in the state. He demanded to know when these funds would be released.
Further, he highlighted additional promises such as pensions for women over 50 years of age from SC, ST, BC, and minority backgrounds. Jagan accused Naidu of not only failing to deliver these financial benefits but also neglecting the education sector by not providing the promised funds for school children. He noted that while millions of children were expected to benefit, many were left without the promised financial assistance.
Jagan also pointed to Naidu’s failure in providing free gas connections and promised transportation benefits for women, which turned out to be restricted to only a few services. He criticized the government for misappropriating funds and failing to meet the needs of women across the state, further questioning when these funds would be disbursed.
Reflecting on the previous administration’s failure, Jagan asserted that women’s empowerment initiatives during his own governance had led to significant achievements, including financial support for over 26 lakh women through various welfare schemes. He emphasized that the current administration has canceled many of these programs, and thus, Naidu lacks the standing to discuss women’s rights and empowerment.
In his closing remarks, he lamented that under Naidu’s rule, the dark ages for women’s empowerment have returned to the state, labeling the current situation as a complete misgovernance. Jagan Mohan Reddy concluded that the only legacy of Naidu’s administration is the erosion of women’s rights and safety, leaving the future uncertain for the women of the state.
