Srinivas BV
Srinivas Bhadravathi Venkata is an Indian politician from Shimoga district of Karnataka. He is currently the National President of the Indian Youth Congress. He was a cricket player who had played for under-19 and under-16 Karnataka cricket team. He was in the news for his online responses and relief works during the COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi. 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. 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. 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. 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. Under his leadership IYC organized 'National Unemployment Day' on September 17, the birthday of Narendra Modi. 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. 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. He coordinated a group of 1000 Indian Youth Congress(IYC) volunteers in Delhi for COVID-19 relief. There were instances when Diplomatic mission (embassies) of New Zealand and Philippines reached out to IYC team for COVID-19 relief. He is also called as 'OXYGEN MAN of India' for supplying Oxygen cyclinders to Covid Patients during 2nd Covid wave in the country. There were political spat over this relief works but Srinivas categorically stated that he is into relief and not into pandemic politics. In May 2021, Delhi Police questioned him on COVID-19 relief distribution alleging hoarding. 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. 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.