Social Activist Claims Sexual Harassment by Cabinet Minister
Social activist and founder of the “Pure” voluntary organization, Dr. Shailaja Talluri, has alleged that a minister in the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet subjected her to sexual harassment. According to claims circulating publicly, she stated that the minister sent her obscene messages and photographs. She also said she is prepared to release WhatsApp chat history and screenshots to support her allegations.
“Clean Up Your Cabinet, Bro”: Lokesh Tagged in Social Media Post
Dr. Shailaja directly tagged Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh on social media, posting the message, “Clean up your cabinet, bro.” The post has triggered widespread political discussion, particularly as it comes amid previous allegations involving elected representatives of the ruling coalition regarding misconduct and alleged harassment of women.
Previous Allegations Against Coalition Legislators
The latest claims have drawn renewed attention to earlier controversies involving several coalition legislators.
TDP MLA Koneti Adimulam had previously faced allegations of threatening and coercing a woman leader from his own party. The controversy intensified after purported bedroom visuals and videos from a private hotel surfaced online.
Jana Sena MLA Arava Sridhar was also accused of sexually harassing a government woman employee and allegedly forcing her to undergo an abortion. Videos related to those allegations had gone viral on social media, generating significant public attention.
Allegations Against Other MLAs
Amadalavalasa MLA Kuna Ravi Kumar was accused by KGBV school principal Regiti Soumya of subjecting her to physical and mental harassment. She alleged that the harassment drove her to attempt suicide and demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge.
Guntur East MLA Mohammad Naseer Ahmed also became the subject of controversy after a video allegedly showing inappropriate conduct during a video call with a woman surfaced online. The issue gained further attention after some TDP women leaders reportedly claimed that the incident was genuine.
Opposition Criticism Over Government Response
These successive allegations have led to criticism from political opponents, who argue that despite repeated accusations involving women, the coalition government has not taken stringent action against the public representatives concerned. Critics allege that instead of ensuring justice for the complainants, the government is protecting those facing accusations.
The developments have also reignited discussions over law and order, accountability, and the conduct of elected representatives in Andhra Pradesh. It is important to note that many of these allegations remain contested, and official investigations or judicial findings may still be pending. No court has conclusively established criminal liability in the cases mentioned above.
