Naidu seeks media support against YSR

Bangalore, Feb 24 (UNI) Telugu Desam Party President N Chandrababu Naidu today sought support of the media to condemn the acts of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, accusing him of being out to kill independent media in state.

''I seek support of the national media to fight against the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh, which has turned out be a media killer and declared a second emergency in the state.

Politicians like Dr Reddy are out to create terror against the democratic set up and kill the independent media,'' he said, citing the recent GO which permitted Information and Public Relations Commissioner to forward defamation cases against it for legal action.

Speaking to newspersons here, Mr Naidu alleged that the Congress was known for curtailing the freedom of the Press, but Dr Reddy had gone a step ahead in intimidating the media by threatening the managements of media organisations who were critical of his 'corrupt' government.

Referring to the action initiated against Margardasi Finance, owned by media baron Ramoji Rao, he alleged that the government wanted to finish off the media houses which did not toe his line.

''The Chief Minister wants to control the media in Andhra Pradesh.

If they don't do what he wants, he finishes them off. He is turning the Information department in the state into a prosecution department,'' he alleged.

On the Chief Minister donating his lands, he said the lands being donated to the poor were actually usurped from them.

''The Chief Minister holds large tracts of land which are actually not his own. They are actually panchayat, endowment or forest lands and he has even grabbed land meant to build roads,'' he added.

UNI