YSRCP slams Andhra coalition for crackdown on social media activists
Synopsis
YSRCP's Ambati Rambabu has alleged that the Andhra Pradesh coalition invoked UAPA — a law meant for terrorists — against a YouTuber critic, produced him before magistrates in multiple locations to secure remand, and allowed party cadres to pressure police. The opposition is now threatening a DGP march, framing the episode as a pattern of diversion from a custodial death and a suicide.
Key Takeaways
YSRCP accused the Andhra Pradesh coalition government of targeting social media activists critical of its governance, on 6 July .
Former minister Ambati Rambabu alleged YouTuber Prashna Raavan (Bachalakura Joseph) was booked under the UAPA and remanded to Nellore jail after charges were allegedly altered.
Jana Sena cadres reportedly staged protests at police stations demanding the YouTuber be handed over to them, according to YSRCP.
Rambabu alleged the crackdown is a diversion from the custodial death of Sai Krishna and the suicide of Kranti Kumar .
YSRCP claims influencer KVR was also picked up from Hyderabad in a similar manner, with no action taken against pro-TDP accounts despite complaints.
Rambabu announced a padayatra to the DGP office to pursue the party's formal complaint.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on 6 July accused the Andhra Pradesh coalition government of pursuing a vindictive campaign against social media activists who have been critical of its governance, vowing to stand by those targeted regardless of party affiliation.
Key Allegations
Former minister Ambati Rambabu, speaking to reporters in Guntur, alleged that YouTubers and online influencers — including KVR and a creator known as Raavan — were being systematically hounded by the ruling coalition. He claimed the government was pursuing cases against them relentlessly until they were jailed, and warned that this approach was politically self-destructive.
The Case of Prashna Raavan
Rambabu singled out the case of Prashna Raavan, also identified as Bachalakura Joseph, as particularly egregious. According to the YSRCP leader, the YouTuber was produced before magistrates at multiple locations; when remand was denied, authorities allegedly altered the charges against him to secure his detention at Nellore jail. Rambabu further alleged that the government invoked the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) — a law ordinarily reserved for terrorism-related offences — against the content creator.
Separately, he alleged that Jana Sena party cadres staged demonstrations outside police stations where Raavan was held, demanding that the YouTuber be handed over to them — an act he described as an attempt to subvert the legal process.
Custodial Death and Diversion Politics
Rambabu linked the crackdown to what he described as an effort to distract public attention from two sensitive incidents: the alleged custodial death of Sai Krishna and the suicide of Kranti Kumar. He alleged that the government has been filing cases against journalists and social media activists at multiple jurisdictions as a diversionary tactic, calling it 'undemocratic and unlawful.'
He also alleged a double standard in enforcement, claiming that social media accounts supporting the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had posted objectionable content targeting YSRCP and its leadership, yet no action had been taken despite formal complaints.
YSRCP's Next Steps
Rambabu announced he would undertake a padayatra (foot march) to the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) to press the complaint his party had already submitted. He also stated that influencer KVR was picked up from Hyderabad in a similar manner, adding to what YSRCP characterises as a pattern of targeted action against government critics. The developments signal an intensifying political confrontation between the YSRCP opposition and the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh over the boundaries of free expression online.
Point of View
Not political criticism. YSRCP's framing of this as 'diversion politics' tied to a custodial death deserves scrutiny: if those underlying incidents are substantiated, the sequencing of arrests matters. The allegation of Jana Sena cadres pressuring police to hand over a detainee is separately serious and warrants independent verification. What this episode illustrates is a broader pattern across several states where UAPA and sedition-adjacent laws are being stretched to cover online speech — a trend that courts have repeatedly flagged but governments have not reversed.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has YSRCP condemned the Andhra Pradesh government's actions against social media activists?
YSRCP has accused the coalition government of vindictively targeting YouTubers and online influencers who criticise its governance. The party alleges that cases are being filed at multiple locations, charges altered to secure remand, and draconian laws like UAPA applied against content creators rather than genuine threats to public order.
Who is Prashna Raavan and why was he arrested?
Prashna Raavan, also known as Bachalakura Joseph, is a YouTuber who reportedly ran content critical of the Andhra Pradesh government. According to YSRCP, he was produced before magistrates at multiple locations, had charges against him altered when remand was denied, and was eventually held in Nellore jail under the UAPA. The government's stated reasons for his arrest have not been independently detailed in available reports.
What is UAPA and why is its use in this case controversial?
The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) is a stringent anti-terror law that severely restricts bail and is intended for cases involving threats to national security or terrorist activity. YSRCP argues its application against a social media commentator is disproportionate and politically motivated, a concern that legal experts have raised in similar cases across India.
What role did Jana Sena cadres allegedly play in the incident?
According to YSRCP's Ambati Rambabu, Jana Sena party workers staged protests outside police stations where Prashna Raavan was being held, demanding that he be handed over to them. Rambabu characterised this as an attempt to take the law into their own hands, though the coalition government's response to this specific allegation has not been reported.
What action has YSRCP announced in response?
Former minister Ambati Rambabu announced he will undertake a padayatra (foot march) to the office of the Director General of Police to press a formal complaint already submitted by the party. YSRCP has also pledged to stand by all affected activists regardless of their political affiliation.
