Andhra Pradesh Government has taken a decision which is feared to hamper the Freedom of Press. In the Cabinet Meeting the other day, it was decided that Department secretaries will be empowered to file cases on Print, Electronic, and Social Media for Wrong News.
This is a move to threaten the media and social media with cases and silence them. Jagan Mohan Reddy Government is losing its sleepover media and Social media highlighting its failures and so resorting to the arm twisting. Even though the government says it is only for the news with malafide intentions, the rule will be applicable to all News the Government do not like.
Legal experts say even though these cases rarely stand in the court, the ordeal of fighting cases will demotivate the whistleblowers and activists. Main Opposition Party, Telugu Desam Party is trying hard to pin down the government using its Social media muscle. The party is just regrouping in the segment which it has ignored while it is in Power.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy brought this rule to reign Andhrajyothy and TDP Social Media Force. Incidentally, YSR Congress has come to Power unleashing a propaganda on the then Government using its Sakshi Media and its Social Media Wing streamlined by Prashant Kishor team.
