Describing the CBI notices to freeze the bank accounts of Sakshi Media house as a move to gag the freedom of press which is also part of a larger conspiracy to close down the newspaper and television by vested interests and competitors, YSR Congress Party on Wednesday has said, the move has made it more resolute to uphold the values of meaningful journalism and healthy democratic norms.
“While majority of the media fraternity and other public organisations have condemned the incident, a section of media and vested interests were drumming up support to the CBI move unmindful of consequences and public opinion which shows that CBI was a cog in the bigger wheel that has targeted YS Jagan Mohan Reddy ever since he came out of Congress,” YSR Congress Party spokesperson, Vasireddy Padma told reporters here.
Attacking the economic flow of the Sakshi Media group by freezing the current accounts would hamper the day-today of the functioning which tantamount to slaughter of democracy and freedom of Press as the Media group provides employment to over 25,000 families, she said adding that Sakshi newspaper and Television have been owned up by the people long back and the nefarious designs of the competitors and vested interests would yield no results.
“The newspaper has a circulation of over 14 lakhs and a readership of 1.5 crores while the television channel has a viewership of over 1.5 which speaks of the popularity of the two entities. This apart, they have successfully broke the media monopoly and had shown to the people the other side of the coin which has become the biggest asset to the Sakshi group,” she said.
There is no anti-social or anti-national activities going on in the Media house and the need for such step by CBI are beyond comprehension, she said.
Spitting fire on the political parties and a section of media that has been celebrating the event, she said, “the growth of the media house and the swelling popularity rating of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy became an eye-sore to his detractors who are trying every available trick to show our leader in poor light but the exercise will be futile and we will overcome all the hurdles and emerge trumps,” she said.
Ridiculing Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s comment that he has no role in the episode, she said, the ruling party has realised that it stands no chance in the June 12 by-election and is in a state of confusion while the main opposition TDP along with other vested interests have scripted the entire episode and we are prepared to face all consequences and will prove our detractors wrong blow by blow.
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