Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh): The office of a Telugu newspaper here was under attack for publishing an article against an MLA of the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP.)
Unhappy with content of an article on Panyam MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy which appeared on Tuesday in Eenadu, a mob allegedly comprising YSRCP activists staged a protest in front of the newspaper office and demanded the arrest of media baron Ramoji Rao, who owns the paper.
The mob tried to barge into the premises, destroyed the nameplate and smashed windows.
Watch videos of the incident shared by users on X:
Ruling #YSRCP Panyam MLA supporters allegedly attacked the largest circulated Telugu daily #Eenadu #Newspaper office in #Kurnool and pelted stones, damaged the sign board, glass windows and burnt newspapers, for questioning/criticising YSRCP MLA.#AndhraPradesh #AttackOnMedia pic.twitter.com/IW7Z7VrmEo
— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) February 20, 2024
Police rushed to the Eenadu office and brought the situation under control. No complaint has been registered yet.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and Andhra Pradesh Congress chief YS Sharmila condemned the attack and accused YSRCP chief and Andhra Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of instigating his followers to attack the press and party workers from the Opposition.
“Strongly condemn the heinous attack on Eenadu office at Kurnool by followers of the ruling party MLA. This follows the recent barbaric act where a photographer and journalist of Andhra Jyothy and TV5 were brutally attacked, causing serious injuries. With a massive defeat looking imminent,” Naidu stated in a post on X.
CM’s sister Sharmila, who quit YSRCP and former her own party before joining Congress, called out the “inhumane” act.
“They (YSRCP) cannot digest the facts… Attacks on journalists and newspaper offices are routine under the YSRCP regime. An attack on press representatives is like an attack on democracy. The state government should apologise to the seriously injured journalist. The perpetrators of the attack should be identified, and strict action should be taken. The government should bear the medical expenses and support the family,” Sharmila said.
