The observance of International Woman’s led to a war of words between the ruling Telugu Desam party and opposition YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh Assembly today, when chief minister Chandrababu Naidu projected his party as the true believer in the empowerment of women. House took up the matter International Women’s day to uphold the rights of women .

To prove his commitment to the cause of women, the CM proposed that the house should adopt a resolution urging the center to implement 33 per cent women reservations in legislative bodies. Naidu listed out the steps taken by the TDP government, from the days of NTR till now,  such as setting up of first Mahila university, Dwcra women etc,  while Opposition leader Jagan tried to debunk the claim by raising many instances in which the behavior of TDP MLAs and the government lowered the dignity of women. Jaganmohan Reddy said the chief minister Naidu was not able to sack social welfare minister Ravela Kihore Babu even though his son Susheel booked under Nirbhaya case following the molestation attempt. Similarly, Jagan brought to notice of the House the controversial remarks made by hero turned politician and Hindupur MLA N Balakrishna. Participating in a movie related program Balakrishna reportedly said, his fans like only when he kisses the heroin or make her pregnant. Jagan said these remarks caused outrage across the country and the MLA was very much present in the House. Jgan also referred to the attack on MRO Vanajakshi by TDP MLA Chintamaneni Prabhakar and involvement of TDP legislators in the call money racket. He also spoke of suicide of Nagarjuna University student Rishiteswari in which TDP government for long hesitated to arrest the principal of the university.

Ravela says his son is innocent

Responding to his son’s reference, minister Ravela said his son, Susheel, who was booked in Nirbhaya case in Hyderabad, was innocent and he would come out innocent. Defending his son as innocent Ravela reminded how the then chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy defended Jagan as innocent when Paritala Ravi was assassinated. If he had committed , he would the first person to back suitable punishment for Susheel. He said he himself took Susheel to the police  station and handed over to the police.

Fans enjoyed my comments

Then Balakrishna lamented that his remarks were unnecessarily misinterpreted. “Everybody at the program, where half of the audience were women, enjoyed my remarks. Nobody told me this was wrong. I have greatest respect for women. If anybody hurt I will withdraw the remarks,” he said and added that the remarks were made in relation to the characters he played in the movies.