Andhra govt's social media crackdown on YSRCP: Multiple arrests, notices for posts 'crossing line'

Following these developments, several social media activists have reportedly gone into hiding.

The YSRCP on Wednesday alleged that the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has served 680 notices to the opposition party's social media activists, registered 147 cases and arrested 49 of them.

YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that only a few harassment cases came to the fore while many party activists were being oppressed. It has been claimed that these social media accounts of the opposition YSR Congress Party “crossed a line” by posting derogatory content about “wives and daughters” of TDP leaders.

However, Reddy asserted that the government could at most issue a "CrPC 41A notice for a social media post it dislikes", but it cannot not allegedly "pick people up and beat them." "Booking 41A notice (CrPC) is the maximum it can do. That’s where it ends. You cannot take people and beat them up—that’s not acceptable," Reddy said at a press conference held at his Tadepalli residence.

The opposition leader noted that once a CrPC 41A notice is issued, the matter becomes sub judice.

He accused the government of "taking the law into its own hands", arresting social media activists and "orchestrating harassment" against YSRCP’s social media wing.

Reddy further alleged that cases were being filed in different police stations and locations against YSRCP activists. "They are being taken everywhere. These are illegal detentions, and this is not right. If you’re not going to play by the rulebook, then you're doing something you’re not supposed to," he added.

The former CM claimed that the NDA government was "silencing voices in the state" and warned that if this became a precedent, "no voice would be heard anywhere".

According to reports, many have been booked under the IT Act under sections related to morphing images and posting derogatory content. Cases have also been registered under sections related to promoting enmity between different groups, defamation, public mischief, and criminal conspiracy under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).

A report by Indian Express stated that prominent YSRCP social media activists who have been booked include Varra Ravinder Reddy, Inturi Ravi Kiran, Kallam Harikrishna Reddy, Peddireddy Sudha Rani, and Meka Venkat Rami Reddy. “Ravinder Reddy is Kadapa district YSRCP co-convenor and handles their social media. He has been spreading defamatory content online, and causing unrest among communities,” said Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen told IE. “He has morphed images of political leaders, and has been posting content that incites unrest among various communities. His actions promote division and disturb social harmony. He manages dozens of YouTube channels which target women leaders by vulgar content against them.”

Following these developments, several social media activists have reportedly gone into hiding.