The latest order issued by the Andhra Pradesh government delegating powers secretaries of various departments to file defamation cases against media houses which carry negative stories against the government without evidences has divided the journalistic community in the state.
Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) held state-wide protests on Friday on the occasion of Andhra Pradesh formation day in protest against what it called the “gag order” by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government to stifle the voice of the journalists.
Several journalists attended the duties by wearing black badges and met leaders of various parties seeking support in the fight against the draconian order.
Almost all opposition leaders, including TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, BJP state president Kanna Laxminarayana and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan extended their solidarity with the agitating journalists.
Of course, journalists from Jagan’s own media house Sakshi have stayed away from these protests. But a section of other journalists surprisingly came in support of the government order saying it was meant only to rein in “yellow media” which is carrying stories deliberately maligning the Jagan government.
These journalists under the banner of Unity Forum of Journalists welcomed the GO No. 2430 which they said was aimed at preventing fake news.
“Those who are working in yellow media and making money through blackmailing might be opposing the GO, but real journalists who are committed to writing impartial and fearless news have nothing to worry about it. In fact, such a GO is essential to sustain impartial journalism,” the forum said.
Interestingly, this forum came down heavily on CM’s national media advisor Devulapalli Amar for adopting dual standards and demanded that he should step down from his post immediately.
“Being an advisor to the government on media affairs, Amar supported the GO. But he is provoking APUWJ leaders to stage dharnas against the GO. If he really feels that the order is draconian, why didn’t he object to it in the government itself? Why is he still clinging to the post? He should have resigned from his post and then ask his followers to agitate against the GO,” the forum demanded.