Rahul Gandhi condemns threats to Congress leader YS Sharmila

Rahul Gandhi. Pic/PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condemned the threats to his party colleague from Andhra Pradesh, Y S Sharmila, and termed it a disgraceful act, reported news agency PTI.

Rahul Gandhi condemns threats: 'Congress party and I stand firmly beside Y S Sharmilaji'

"Insulting and threatening women, a vile and cowardly act, is unfortunately the most common weapon of the weak," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

"The Congress party and I stand firmly beside Y S Sharmilaji and Suneethaji and strongly condemn this disgraceful attack," he added.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said certain elements in Andhra Pradesh are clearly rattled by the huge support Sharmila and the Congress are getting in the southern state with every passing day.

"The death threats and trolling against Sharmilaji and Suneethaji are highly deplorable and the entire party stands firmly with them against these pathetic attempts to tarnish their reputation and the great legacy of Y S Rajashekhar Reddy garu," Venugopal said in a post on X.

Former Union minister M M Pallam Raju said on the microblogging platform: "It is sad to see the ugly online trolling of @realyssharmila, the AP Congress chief, who has adopted the ideology embraced by her late father, Dr YSR, the popular CM of AP. Similarly, Sri YS Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Suneetha has been subjected to this pathetic abuse."

Rahul Gandhi condemns threats: This not only disrespects them but also contradicts the principles of civility, says Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot also condemned the threats against the APCC President and demanded strict action against those responsible.

"APCC President @realyssharmila ji and Suneetha ji are facing harassment from trolls. This not only disrespects them but also contradicts the principles of civility and healthy discourse in public life," Pilot wrote in a post on X.

"While there may be different political ideologies and perspectives, such personal attacks should be condemned in the strongest terms, and strict action must be taken against individuals," he added.

Raju also posted a media report that said Suneetha Narreddy, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, has got a complaint lodged at the Gachibowli cyber crime police station in Hyderabad against a man for abusive and threatening Facebook posts, reported PTI.

Sharmila staged a demonstration at the Andhra Bhavan in Delhi on Friday to protest against the non-conferment of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and the failure to fulfil bifurcation promises, reported PTI.

She protested before the B R Ambedkar statue at the Andhra Bhavan and was accompanied by Manickam Tagore and senior Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)