Despite firm assertion by YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and issuance of government orders over introduction of English as medium of instruction in government schools, the pro-TDP papers continue to stoke the controversy.
On Monday, two major Telugu dailies Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy picked up a point from the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made during his monthly “Mann ki baat” speech over the radio.
Modi underlined the need to promote native languages and said development cannot be possible if the mother tongue was ignored.
He was referring to some native languages becoming extinct and said United Nations Organisation (UNO) also declared 2019 as the International Year of Native Languages. He appealed to the people to protect their mother tongue.
It is obvious that the two dailies have made it their lead stories only to snub the YSRC government for introducing English medium.
However, nowhere in his speech did Modi refer to English medium and argue that it should not be introduced in the government schools. He only suggested protection of mother tongue, which Jagan says he is not neglecting.
Sakshi daily also highlighted Narendra Modi’s speech but with the point that he had never wanted to become the Prime Minister.
Maharasthra drama continued to be another leading story in all the three dailies. The Supreme Court directions to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Governor to submit the letters proving how they staked claim for forming the government was the highlight the report.
Apart from these common stories, each of the three dailies have their own special reports; of course, Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy carried their own brand of negative stories – Eenadu carried a report on thriving of sand mafia despite instructions by chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy to eradicate corruption in sand supply.
Andhra Jyothy carried three reports – one on suicides and forcible deaths due to mounting debts, family disputes and depresson; second one on increasing consumption of bottled water and lack of financial resources for new projects in Andhra Pradesh, concluding that there was no way except going for fresh loans.
Sakshi carried two special reports – one on overhauling of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) and large scale return of labour migrants due to pro-poor initiatives being taken by the government.
Otherwise, the three major dailies have nothing major and sensational to highlight on Monday.