Andhra Pradesh’s political landscape heated up as YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy unleashed a fierce broadside against the state government over the arrest of TV journalists. Labeling it an ‘unprecedented assault on media independence,’ Reddy rallied supporters, positioning the controversy as a litmus test for democratic values.
The controversy erupted when police swooped down on the homes of three seasoned TV reporters, hauling them in on what critics call trumped-up charges. Their sin? Airing hard-hitting stories on alleged scams in public contracts, including road construction deals riddled with cost overruns and substandard work. The TDP-led coalition dismissed the reports as ‘fake news,’ but Reddy sees a pattern of vendetta against uncomfortable truths.
From the podium, Reddy painted a grim picture: ‘A government that fears the pen and microphone has no legitimacy. These arrests are the first step toward censorship.’ He recounted how his own tenure faced relentless media scrutiny, which he welcomed as healthy democracy, contrasting it with the current clampdown.
Public reaction has been swift, with candlelight vigils outside police stations and hashtags trending on social media. Prominent lawyers have filed habeas corpus petitions in the high court, arguing the arrests violate fundamental rights. The journalists’ channels have gone off air in solidarity, amplifying the standoff.
Reddy vowed to escalate the fight, planning a signature campaign and appeals to national human rights bodies. This showdown underscores deeper rifts in Andhra’s media-politics nexus, where investigative journalism often collides with power corridors. As courts deliberate, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the fragile line between governance and gagging dissent.