Volunteers Are Pride, Not 'Terrorists': YSRCP Counters TDP's Bojjala

Visakhapatnam: TDP candidate Bojjala Sudheer Reddy's controversial remarks likening volunteers to ‘terrorists’ and ‘sleeper cells’ in Andhra Pradesh have drawn widespread condemnation from YSRCP leaders. Bojjala, the TDP candidate from Srikalahasti assembly constituency, alleged that volunteers were ‘destroying Srikalahasti’ and vowed to ‘see the end of the volunteers’ if his party came to power.

Condemning Bojjala’s objectionable remarks against the volunteer system, YSRCP leaders said that even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the initiative and volunteers’ contribution to the society.  

Deputy Chief Minister Kottu Satyanarayana lashed out at Bojjala, questioning his intellect and claiming that his father had earned crores through red sandalwood smuggling when he was a minister. Satyanarayana defended the volunteer system, asserting that it provides the government's programs to the people without corruption.

“We have 2.50 lakh volunteers in the state. They’re not outsiders but our own children. The Kerala government is studying the AP volunteer system for implementation in their state,” Kottu Satyanarayana asserted. 

Minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao demanded action from the Election Commission against Bojjala for comparing volunteers, who are seen as role models, to ‘terrorists and jihadis’ He stated that people support volunteers like their own children and accused Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan of poisoning public perception against the volunteers.

Former minister Avanti Srinivas strongly condemned Bojjala’s comments. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated the services of the volunteers. He accused TDP leaders of making unnecessary comments against volunteers who are selflessly serving the people, even at the cost of their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also Read: 'Jana Sena Became Dhana Sena'

It may be recalled here that Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan had criticized the ward volunteers and claimed that the women and girls were in danger because of the volunteer system. Top ranking officials of central intelligence agencies shared with me that the lakhs of village volunteers are collecting information about single, distressed women in the state and are sharing it with women traffickers,  Pawan Kalyan alleged during a public rally at Eluru on July 10, 2023.