‘State-sponsored’: Chandrababu Naidu blames govt for spate of attacks on journalists in AP

N Chandrababu Naidu, national president of Telugu Desam Party, has demanded action against Andhra Pradesh Jagan Mohan Reddy for “consistent attacks” on media, and  for allegedly making "false statements to provoke hatred and enmity among groups with the sole aim of instigating violence".

In a letter to the Director General of Police K V Rajendranath Reddy on Wednesday, Naidu strongly condemned the attacks on the media and demanded stringent action against those involved in it. “Ever since the YSRCP [YSR Congress Party] came to power there have been consistent state-sponsored attacks on the freedom of the press, on media houses, journalists and photographers,” he said.

The letter mentioned a series of recent attacks on journalists. 

The former chief minister said the GO 2430 – which gives powers to the state department secretaries to issue rejoinders and file defamation cases against the media personnel – is aimed at suppressing voices, and has resulted in murders, physical and verbal attacks on journalists across the state. 

Recalling the February 14 attack on a journalist in Amaravathi mandal of Palnadu district, Naidu said the victim was being punished for exposing the sand mafia involved with YSRCP leaders. “In the run up to the 2024 election, the YSRCP appears to have unleashed a series of attacks on the media in general and journalists in particular,” he added.

The letter said four days after the Amaravathi incident, Telugu daily Andhra Jyothy’s photographer was brutally attacked in Anantapur district’s Rapthadu, where Jagan Mohan Reddy’s political meeting was also underway on February 18. Naidu said the police remained mute spectators in both incidents.

Days later, February 20, an alleged YSRCP mob attacked the office of Telugu daily Eenadu in Kurnool. Naidu said in the letter, “A mob led by the Panyam MLA and YSRCP leader K Rambhupal Reddy pelted the office of the daily with stones and created a situation of fear for almost an hour.”

On the same day, a reporter of Andhra Jyothy was physically attacked at Maddikera in Kurnool district while he was covering the YSRCP political meeting, Naidu said. He called these incidents “state-sponsored” attacks against the freedom of press and media and said these were “instigated by Jagan Mohan Reddy”.

This report was republished from The News Minute as part of The News Minute-Newslaundry alliance. It has been lightly edited for style and clarity. Read about our partnership here and become a TNM subscriber here.

General elections are around the corner, and Newslaundry and The News Minute have ambitious plans together. Choose an election project you would like to support and power our journalism. Click here.