Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday, 7 August launched a sharp attack on the Chandrababu Naidu-led government for withdrawing the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill — Criminal Law (AP Amendment) Bill, 2019, calling it a 'black day for women and children of Andhra Pradesh.' The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief accused the ruling coalition of dismantling a proven safety framework out of political jealousy.

Why the Disha Bill Was Withdrawn

The State Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday, resolved to withdraw the Disha Bill. According to the state government, the Ministry of Home Affairs had reviewed the legislation, sought clarifications on several provisions, and advised the state to withdraw the existing Bill and submit a revised version incorporating the Centre's recommendations. The Bill had earlier been sent to the President for assent.

What Jagan Said

In a post on social media, Jagan Mohan Reddy said the YSRCP government had introduced Disha as a targeted response to rising crimes against women and children, delays in investigation, and prolonged judicial processes. He described it as 'a comprehensive system that not only aimed to prevent crime but also ensured an immediate police response, protection for victims, time-bound investigation, scientific collection of forensic evidence, prompt filing of charge sheets and speedy justice through dedicated courts.'

Reddy also challenged the Naidu government's claim that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was sufficient to replace Disha. 'How can the BNS replace a specialised system that includes an SOS emergency response mechanism, dedicated women's police stations, Women Police personnel from the village level, exclusive patrolling units, a sexual offenders' database, an advanced forensic system, specialised prosecution, dedicated courts and a framework aimed at ensuring time-bound investigation and speedy justice for women?' he asked.

Disha's Track Record, as Cited by Jagan

The former Chief Minister cited a series of figures to argue that the Disha framework had delivered measurable results during the YSRCP tenure. He said the average investigation period in crimes against women was reduced from 156 days in 2017 to 28 days by 2022. Charge sheets were filed within seven days in 164 rape cases and 378 other sexual offence cases.

More than 51 per cent of accused in serious cases were reportedly arrested within 48 hours. A total of 214 convictions were secured in cases involving crimes against women and children. By May 2024, crimes against women had declined by 27 per cent, with the annual average number of cases falling from 14,338 to 10,426, according to Reddy.

Infrastructure Built Under Disha

Reddy recalled that the YSRCP government established 18 exclusive Disha Mahila Police Stations and deployed 13,500 women police personnel — including one officer in every village and ward secretariat. Dedicated patrolling was introduced using 900 two-wheelers and 163 four-wheelers. Forensic infrastructure was upgraded across six major cities, and 13 Special POCSO Courts and 12 Special Women's Courts were established. A database containing details of 2,17,467 registered sexual offenders was also created.

The Disha App, which allowed a woman in distress to alert police by pressing an SOS button or shaking her phone five times, was downloaded by more than 1.51 crore people. During the YSRCP tenure, police responded to and resolved 31,607 emergency calls through the app, according to Reddy.

YSRCP's Demand

Reddy alleged that withdrawing the Disha Bill would reduce the fear of law among offenders and weaken victims' confidence in the system. He demanded that the Cabinet reverse its decision and instead move to further strengthen the Disha framework. The Chandrababu government has not yet responded publicly to these specific claims. How the state ultimately frames its revised legislation — and whether it preserves the Disha infrastructure already in place — will determine the real-world impact on women's safety in Andhra Pradesh.