*Naidu Govt trying to silence Social Media voices*

Kakinada, May 11: YSRCP Regional Coordinator and former minister Kurasala Kannababu alleged that the TDP-led coalition government has launched a conspiracy to suppress dissent on social media by targeting accounts associated with “Jagananna Connects.” Speaking to the media at his camp office in Kakinada, Kannababu said the government, unable to answer criticism over corruption and administrative failures, was now attempting to suspend social media accounts by sending notices to platforms like Meta and X through the police machinery.

Kannababu alleged that for the last two years, YSRCP social media activists had been harassed through illegal cases, and the government has now escalated its actions by trying to shut down entire accounts. He questioned how even posts carrying official Cabinet decisions were being flagged for deletion, stating that such actions amounted to the government indirectly admitting its own decisions were wrong. According to him, instead of answering criticism democratically, the coalition government was trying to silence voices exposing corruption, misgovernance, and policy failures.

He accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of functioning with “fear and insecurity,” claiming the government was more dependent on EVMs and the BJP at the Centre than on the trust of the people. Kannababu stated that after nearly two years of coalition rule, no section of society — including farmers, students, women, employees, and unemployed youth — was satisfied with the government’s performance. He alleged that every sector in the state had deteriorated under the coalition administration.

Kannababu further alleged that the government was unable to tolerate the growing influence of YSRCP’s social media platforms, especially because they were exposing what he called the “false propaganda” of yellow media and the coalition leadership. He said the government had normalized filing criminal cases merely for expressing opinions online and accused police of acting like “weapons in the hands of the ruling party.” He alleged that police were directly issuing notices to remove social media posts critical of the government and threatening account suspensions without following proper legal procedures.

The former minister claimed that thousands of cases had already been filed against YSRCP social media activists. He referred to alleged actions against YSRCP media department members, spokespersons, and party supporters, accusing the government of trying to eliminate every pro-YSRCP voice from public discourse. He further alleged that false narratives were being created by linking unrelated social media posts from North India to YSRCP-backed platforms like “Jagananna Connects” in an attempt to justify notices and account suspensions.

Kannababu also accused TDP leaders of openly posting abusive and misleading content through official party social media handles while police allegedly targeted only YSRCP supporters. He cited multiple examples where posts questioning Amaravati expenditure, corruption allegations, temple administration issues, and public safety concerns had allegedly resulted in police notices or criminal cases against YSRCP leaders and supporters.

Criticising the coalition government’s governance, Kannababu alleged that the administration had failed even in utilising Central government grants and questioned why the state was repeatedly borrowing funds despite not being able to spend available Central allocations. He claimed Andhra Pradesh was witnessing decline across all sectors under coalition rule and accused the government of focusing entirely on political vendetta and diversion politics instead of public welfare.

Kannababu concluded by warning that suppressing every questioning voice was undemocratic and urged the government to abandon what he described as authoritarian methods. He also remarked that Amaravati was being promoted like a real estate venture and claimed it reflected Chandrababu Naidu’s “dream capital,” not a true people’s capital.