The Hindu : Widespread protests across state

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 09, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Widespread protests across state

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Nov. 8. The attack on the freedom of the press in the form of the sentencing of three Editors and two senior journalists of The Hindu and the Editor of Murosoli, and raids on the premises of the newspapers in Tamil Nadu have evoked strong condemnation in Andhra Pradesh. Veteran journalists and newspaper Editors gathered at the Press Club here today to voice their righteous indignation.

The Chairman of the A.P. Press Academy, I. Venkat Rao, its former Chairman, P. Venkateswara Rao, the former Deputy Editor of The Hindu, R.J. Rajendra Prasad, Editor of Siasat, Zahid Ali Khan, Editor of Andhra Jyothi, K. Ramachandra Murthy, Indian Journalists Union secretary-general K. Srinivasa Reddy, APUWJ president D. Amar and others termed the "Jayalalithaa-scripted action" as "dictatorial".

Addressing members of the media before taking out a rally to the Raj Bhavan, the senior journalists called upon the democratic world to condemn the "trampling" of the rights of the media by the T.N. Government. It was time for a nation-wide debate on the codification of privileges of the Legislature for the protection of the freedom of the press, they said.

Holding banners and raising slogans later, several journalists walked to the Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the Governor's office seeking his intervention to halt attacks on the press freedom by "vindictive politicians". Meanwhile, condemnations kept pouring in at The Hindu office here and several callers too expressed concern over the "meanness" of the TN Government.

The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham, the A.P. State Council of the CPI, termed the action "the crudest way of stifling press freedom". Attacks on individuals and institutions had become the order of the day under the Jayalalithaa regime, they said.

The CITU State unit, CPI(M) A.P. Committee, the A.P. branch of the Indian Association of Lawyers and the A.P. Backward Classes Welfare Association, in separate statements expressed indignation at the muzzling of the press. The leaders of the organisations demanded the immediate withdrawal of the sentences against the journalists. Andhra Pradesh Journalists Union said the action was reminiscent of the Emergency days.

In Cuddapah, CPI(M) functionaries burnt an effigy of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, near the old bud stand here condemning the action. Addressing protesters, the district CPI(M) secretary, B. Narayana, charged the T.N. Government with making a mockery of democracy by its undemocratic actions. He said the Tamil Nadu Government had invoked POTA, "which was irrationally enacted by the Centre", and imprisoned some political leaders, and thereafter unleashed repression on the Government employees taking advantage of the Supreme Court judgment. It now sought to "outrageously" trample the freedom of press by its "dictatorial approach" towards newspaper Editors and senior journalists, Mr. Narayana said.

Meanwhile, the district CPI secretary, G. Obulesu, said the Jayalalithaa Government blatantly "displayed its arrogance by its unconstitutional action to stifle press freedom".

The CITU district secretary, Ch. Chandrasekhar, charged the Jayalalithaa Government with resorting to vindictive action against the Editor and senior journalists of The Hindu, for being critical of the Government's decisions. ress freedom.

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