Police notices to media an attack on press freedom: Chelluboyina

Tadepalli, August 7: Former Information and Public Relations Minister and senior YSR Congress Party leader Chelluboyina Venu Gopala Krishna strongly criticised the Andhra Pradesh Police Department for issuing notices to three news channels. He said this move is a direct attack on press freedom and shows how the TDP-led coalition government is using the police to silence democratic voices.

In a statement, Chelluboyina said the police accused the channels of selectively broadcasting the remarks made by Kurnool Range DIG Koya Praveen regarding the recent incident at Nallagondavaripalli in Pulivendula. He said the real issue was the violent attack by TDP leaders on MLC Ramesh Yadav, a BC leader, and YSRCP leader Velpula Ramalinga Reddy during the ZPTC by-election campaign. Instead of taking action against the attackers, the government is going after the media outlets that reported the truth.

Chelluboyina said this is clearly an attempt to threaten the media and control what information reaches the public. In a democracy, the media plays an important role in reporting facts and holding those in power accountable. Sending legal notices to journalists for doing their duty is a serious violation of press freedom.

He demanded that the government immediately withdraw the notices and stop harassing the media.