Former chief minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu led his party MLAs and MLCs in a protest rally to the Assembly on Thursday against GO 2430 imposing curbs on media.
As the Marshalls opposed the TDP leaders to enter the Assembly premises with banners and placards, the TDP leaders protested in the Assembly accusing partisan attitude of the Marshalls.
However, Legislative Affairs Minister Buggana Rajendranath disproved the TDP members’ allegation of Marshalls’ partisan attitude as the rules were laid by the TDP in the last five years and the present government had not made any changes or introduced any new set of rules.
Later, Chandrababu Naidu accused the YSRCP government of imposing restrictions on the media and demanded that the GO 2430 be withdrawn as the media across the country is opposing it.
Replying to the charges, Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy discounted the TDP chief’s allegation and the misleading information on the GO 2430.
The chief minister said that the GO authorises the departmental secretaries to take action against the media that carries misleading false information against the government. He further said that action would be taken only if the media fails to carry the rejoinder issued by the government.
Minister for Finance and Legislative Affairs, Buggana Rajendranath, too justified the GO and said that the government was forced to issue the GO as a section of the media, which is loyal to the TDP, was spreading false news and not carrying the government version.