The ongoing tussle between Eenadu group chairman Ramoji Rao and Andhra pradesh CM YS Rajsekhar Reddy has been turned into a political drama. The TDP, main opposition party in Andhra Pradesh, is trying to cash the tussle to unite the anti-Congress elements not only in AP but at national level too.

The TDP has sought the help of the CPI (M), CPI, and the Samajwadi party (SP) to raise the government’s attack on freedom of press in AP. To make this issue more debatable, TDP Rajya Sabha MP Rama Mohana Rao met CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat and CPI leader D Raja and asked for their support into this matter now.

According to a report, Rao also met SP leader Amar Singh and the speculations are on about the possibility of a new political alignment against Congress.

In the AP Assembly, the entire opposition came out in the support of Ramoji Rao and criticized the moves taken by the Congress government against Rao.

On the other hand, the investors in the Margadarsi Financiers also came out on the street to show their support to Eenadu and Rao. The investors came out for the protest after a day when CID officials raided three offices of the Margdarshi, Rao’s chit fund.

The state government had given the logic behind the raids that Margadarsi has collected over Rs 2600 crore by ignoring RBI norms. The company does not have enough money to pay back its investors. Later, Ramoji Rao denied the charge made against him.

Later, Opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu said;

I will meet the Prime Minister on the issue, and ask him to look into the matter. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy is directly attacking press freedom, and we will not permit it.

In another development, the Andhra Pradesh government has issued a Government Order (GO) to apparently curb the freedom of the press in the state.

According to the GO No. 938, issued on February 20, the state government may now put on trial a newspaper or any news channel that is publishing or telecasting any news against the government.

The AP CM Y S R Reddy has, himself, chaired the Government Order (GO), also called as Media Watch. The order has been passed by the government.

On the other hand, the CM Office refused to give any detail of any such order. The state’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry said they know nothing in this matter.