"Jagan Reddy's sheer lack of empathy for protesting Anganwadi workers is living proof of tyranny": TDP

TDP National General Secretary Nara Lokesh, while hitting out at the state government for 'failing to resolve' the demands of the Anganwadi workers in Andhra Pradesh.

"Jagan Reddy's sheer lack of empathy for the Anganwadi workers who are fighting for their rights is living proof of tyranny. Jagan's dictatorship is evident from the camp set up to protest in Dharnachowk, Vijayawada being attacked and Anganwadi workers illegally dragged into buses and arrested," he said.

The Anganwadi workers of the state have been protesting for the last two weeks and seeking official recognition of Anganwadi workers, helpers, and mini-workers as government employees, with a minimum wage set at Rs 26,000, among other demands.

The TDP leader further extended support to the Anganwadi workers and demanded the government resolve the issue immediately.

Referring to the Adudham Andhra launched by Jagan Reddy on Tuesday, Lokesh also took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote "Anganwadi is asking to help, Jagan is playing with their lives."

Senior TDP leader Achanta Sunitha also slammed the Jagan Reddy government for 'not prioritizing' the needs of the Anganwadi workers in the state.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, the senior TDP leader said that more than 1 lakh Anganwadi workers in the state have been protesting for their demands for the past 16 days.

"But the Jagan Reddy government has not responded. Despite claiming all women as her sisters, Jagan has not shown any empathy towards the Anganwadi workers. Protests are becoming widespread across the state, involving Anganwadi workers, municipal workers, midday meal workers, and grama volunteers, all expressing dissatisfaction with the government's actions. The Minister of Women and Children is preoccupied with their personal matters," she added.

Notably, talks between Anganwadi unions' leaders and the government failed to yield positive results on Tuesday. Education Minister Botcha Satyanarayana, who chaired the meeting, appealed to the representatives of the Anganwadi workers and helpers' associations to give the State government some more time to resolve their issues. Subsequently, the Anganwadi workers decided to continue their agitations until their demands were fulfilled. (ANI)