Left parties condemn ‘illegal arrest’ of Anganwadi workers during Vijayawada protest

Ten Left parties have strongly condemned the alleged “illegal arrest” of Anganwadi workers who were staging a peaceful protest in Vijayawada, accusing the government of resorting to repression instead of dialogue.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday (March 3, 3026), the Left parties said that the Anganwadi workers had been holding a 30-hour peaceful dharna at Dharna Chowk since the previous morning, demanding resolution of their long-pending and legitimate issues. They alleged that in the early hours, while the workers were asleep, police forcibly detained them.

The Left leaders claimed that male police personnel behaved inhumanely with women workers, allegedly prodding them with pins, tying them with ropes, covering their faces with cloth, and forcibly pushing them into vans. They also alleged that the detainees were not allowed to collect their bags or mobile phones. Around 1,000 Anganwadi workers, including state leaders B. Baby Rani and K. Subbarao Amma, were reportedly taken into custody.

According to them, those arrested were transported nearly 100 kilometres away to distant locations in Palnadu and Eluru districts, including Narasaraopet, Sattenapalli, Chatrai, and Buttayagudem. They alleged that from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., the detained workers were not allowed to attend to basic needs and were kept inside police vehicles without being allowed to disembark. They termed the police action “undemocratic” and described it as a clear violation of human rights.

The Left parties’ leaders further recalled that during the previous government’s tenure, agreements had been reached with Anganwadi workers to address their demands following similar protests. They also pointed out that when in Opposition, the Telugu Desam Party had extended support to the Anganwadi movement and promised wage hikes. However, they alleged that after coming to power, the present government, led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, had failed to fulfil those assurances and instead resorted to suppression.

They  urged the government to avoid further damage to its reputation and immediately initiate talks with Anganwadi union leaders to resolve their legitimate demands, particularly regarding wage enhancement and service conditions.

The joint statement was signed by representatives of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) New Democracy, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, Marxist Communist Party of India (United), Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party, among others.