Srinivas BV
President of Indian Youth Congress
Assumed office
July 2019
Preceded byKeshav Chand Yadav
Personal details
Born (1980-11-08) 8 November 1980 (age 43)
Political partyIndian National Congress
ResidenceBhadravati, Karnataka

Srinivas Bhadravathi Venkata is an Indian politician from Shimoga district of Karnataka.[1] He is currently the National President of the Indian Youth Congress.[2] He was a cricket player who had played for under-19 and under-16 Karnataka cricket team.[3] He was in the news for his online responses and relief works with along his associates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi.[4]

Political career

Srinivas who hails from a non-political middle-class family, started his political career as a NSUI member during his college days at National College, Bangalore.[5] Later he became a block president of the Indian Youth Congress followed by positions at district level and state level.

He rose into publicity in 2010 when a group of Congress workers along with him mounted a protest against Pramod Muthalik, a staunch right wing activist in Coastal Karnataka and smeared black paint on his face for Muthalik's vitriolic stand against Valentine's Day celebrations.[6] He faced disciplinary actions from Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee following this. However, in October 2010 he received 'Best Youth Congress Worker' award from Rahul Gandhi.[7]

He held the post of National Secretary, IYC, followed by National General Secretary, IYC, and its vice president in 2018. In July 2019 he was appointed president of the Indian Youth Congress when Keshav Chand Yadav resigned from this post after Lok Sabha elections.[8][9] Under his leadership IYC organized 'National Unemployment Day' on September 17, the birthday of Narendra Modi.[10][11][5]

COVID relief

In the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India he set up facilities to help Migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to reach back home using Shramik Special trains.[12][5]

During the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India he became one of the most visible help provider for government and non government bodies by facilitating emergency supplies of essential drugs and oxygen.[3][13] He coordinated a group of 1000 Indian Youth Congress(IYC) volunteers in Delhi for COVID-19 relief.[14] There were instances when Diplomatic mission (embassies) of New Zealand and Philippines reached out to IYC team for COVID-19 relief.[15][16] There were political spat over this relief works but Srinivas categorically stated that he is into relief and not into pandemic politics.[17]

In May 2021, Delhi Police questioned him on COVID-19 relief distribution alleging hoarding.[18] However Indian National Congress came out in support of him and criticized Bharatiya Janata Party for unleashing political vendetta against those helping people in need.[19] In a report filed by Delhi Police before Delhi High Court they said that Srinivas and team are actually helping people voluntarily without any discrimination and there is no black marketing happening under the garb of volunteering.[20]

Allegations of harassment

Angkita Dutta, Assam president of Indian Youth Congress, accused him of harassment after which she was expelled from the All India Congress Committee due to "anti party activities". Srinivas was summoned by Assam Police in the matter.[21]

Positions held

See also

References

  1. ^ "Who is Srinivas BV, the new president of Indian Youth Congress?". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Srinivas BV appointed Indian Youth Congress' interim president days after Keshav Chand Yadav resigns as chief". First Post. com. First Post. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b Pratiba Raman T. S. Sudhir (7 May 2021). "Cricket's loss, India's gain. Meet BV Srinivas, the country's 'helpline'". India Today. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Youth Congress President Srinivas BV Steps Into Sonu Sood's Shoes". www.outlookindia.com/. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Prabhu, Nagesh (3 December 2020). "B.V. Srinivas is first Kannadiga to become IYC president". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Mutalik 'faces' ire of protestors". Deccan Herald. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  7. ^ Kumar, Hemanth (27 October 2010). "Man who blackened Pramod Mutalik's face is a hero for Congress". DNA India. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Indian Youth & Polity featuring BV Srinivas National President Indian Youth Congress with Richa Sharma & Sarah Iqbal". Infeed In. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Congress President Sonia Gandhi appoints Shivamogga's Srinivas BV as Youth Congress President". Deccan Herald. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Why is National Unemployment Day trending on PM Modi's birthday: All you need to know". DNA India. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Youth Congress launches 'Rozgar Do' campaign". Hindustan Times. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Youth Congress provides food and shelter to migrants in Delhi amid corona-crisis". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  13. ^ "A young Congressman who leads from the front". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Watch: Embassies Tagged Us and We Helped, No Political Intentions, Only Want to Save Lives". The Wire. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  15. ^ Bhattacherjee, Kallol (2 May 2021). "Several foreign embassies in Delhi face COVID-19 onslaught". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  16. ^ Geeta Mohan (2 May 2021). "Political spat over Indian Youth Congress extending help to foreign missions". India Today. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Working for the people, not interested in pandemic politics: Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV". ThePrint. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  18. ^ Patel, Anand (14 May 2021). "'Have nothing to hide', says IYC chief Srinivas BV after Delhi Police quizzes him on Covid relief distribution". India Today. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Modi government harassing IYC chief Srinivas BV for helping those in need: Congress". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  20. ^ Scroll Staff. "Covid: Srinivas BV, other politicians are 'actually helping people', Delhi Police tell HC". Scroll.in. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  21. ^ Agarwala, Tora (23 April 2023). "Harassment case: Assam cops summon Srinivas on May 2, he blames CM Sarma". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Srinivas BS Interim President Indian Youth Congress". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
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