Andhra Pradesh leader of opposition Chandrababu Naidu lashed out against the YSRCP saying the government is curbing freedom of the press in the state. Speaking to the media on Friday, the former Chief Minister and TDP chief condemned the recent spate of attacks on journalists in Andhra.
Naidu condemned the murder of Andhrajyothi reporter K Sathyanarayana, who was brutally killed by two assailants in Tuni mandal of East Godavari. The East Godavari police have registered an FIR against local YSRCP MLA and government chief whip Dadisetti Raja in connection with the case. Naidu also mentioned Nellore MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy’s abusive behaviour towards senior journalist Dolendra Prasad, and another attack on journalist Nagarjuna Reddy in Ongole. An audio clip alleged to be that of Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy abusing a reporter was also played for the media.
Naidu also criticised the YSRCP’s recent move to empower Information & Public Relations (I&PR) department secretaries to take legal action against media outlets for carrying ‘baseless’ reports with ‘malafide’ intention. The state cabinet is said to have accepted the proposal presented by the I&PR Minister Perni Venkatramaiah. The state government had cited a Government Order (GO) from 2007, which gives the same powers to the Special Commissioner of the I&PR department.
“In 2007, the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government issued a similar GO curbing freedom of the press. Back then, reporters, editors and the opposition opposed it together. YSR was forced to withdraw the GO, claiming he hadn’t heard of it before it was issued,” Naidu said, playing video clips of YSR declaring that the said GO was being repealed. “His (Jagan’s) father corrected his mistakes immediately, but he is arrogant and egoistic,” Naidu said.
“Even back then, it wasn’t just about cancelling GO, we were also against the very intent behind it, to control media … Such is the history of GO RT No. 938, which Jagan brought to the cabinet meeting,” said Naidu. Lamenting that bringing social media under the ambit of the powers curbs even individual freedom of expression, he added, “We can’t even talk about our problems with the government sitting in our own homes.”
Naidu also criticised the current financial situation in the state. “They constantly keep blaming the TDP government for the financial crisis. In 4 out of 5 years in our term, the state saw double digit growth rate. Only with the creation of wealth will there be a rise in income and we will be able to bring loans. The World Bank and AIIB have already withdrawn their loans. There is no economic activity in the state. Construction has come to a halt, and they have killed Amaravati, a golden duck,” Naidu said, going on to claim that the YSRCP government had ‘terrorised’ industrialists and contractors, and wanted to curb such news with the GO.
Criticising the unofficial ban on ABN and TV 5 news channels in the state, Naidu said that the government has lost its credibility. Recalling the incident where Naidu himself was placed under house arrest earlier in September, Naidu alleged that the police department was biased towards the YSRCP.
“They’re saying they’ll book cases against anyone for questioning them. Will the DGP send a notice even to me, someone who has been the CM 14 years and opposition leader for 11 years? Let him do it, we will see,” Naidu said, adding that making undemocratic decisions that violate peoples’ rights can become a death sentence for Jagan’s political career.
“We will continue to support the rights and freedom of the press. We will take the fight to the national level if needed,” Naidu said.