Visakhapatnam, India — A violent incident targeting the offices of the Deccan Chronicle in Visakhapatnam this Wednesday has sparked widespread condemnation from various leaders and organizations across the political and journalistic spectrum. The attack, which resulted in substantial damage to the media outlet’s premises, has raised serious concerns about press freedom in the region.
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the president of the YSR Congress Party and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, was among the first to denounce the actions, criticizing what he termed as a “cowardly attack” on the media organization. He utilized social media to express his disapproval, emphasizing the attack as an effort to suppress unbiased journalism.
The incident occurred shortly after the Deccan Chronicle published an article titled ‘Alliance takes U-turn on VSP privatisation,’ which discussed the controversial privatisation plans for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant – a contentious issue in local politics. The report drew the ire of supporters of the opposing Telugu Desaka Party (TDP), prompting a violent response.
Former Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Gidugu Rudra Raju, also expressed his disapproval, describing the attack as a severe threat to democratic values and press freedom. Amar Devulapalli, a representative from the Indian Journalists Union, echoed these sentiments, characterizing the TDP’s actions as an attack meant to muzzle press freedom. According to Devulapalli, the violent response to the news report is emblematic of a broader assault on media independence.
Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh’s minister for education, IT, and electronics and TDP leader, condemned the attack, and called for restraint among party followers, urging them to act responsibly and not let emotions guide their actions.
Furthermore, the Deccan Chronicle Employees Union vehemently criticized the attack, emphasizing that such acts of violence are direct attacks against the principles of a free press. K. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the general secretary of the union, stressed the importance of resolving disagreements through peaceful means to protect the sanctity of media operations.
Other political figures, including former MLA Malladi Vishnu of the YSRC, highlighted past grievances with TDP but noted that they had never resorted to such extremities. He urged the TDP-led government to reaffirm its commitment to press freedom.
Additionally, Ch. Babu Rao from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) called for immediate action against the perpetrators, critiquing the government’s inconsistency in its stance on economic issues like the Vizag Steel Plant privatization.
In the face of this assault, several members of the YSRC, such by Mehboob Sheikh and Dr. Ambati Naga Radhakrishna, condemned the increase in attacks against the press, labeling the incident as an attack on democracy itself. They demanded prompt and decisive government action to address such assaults and uphold journalistic safety.
This attack not only marks a significant blow to the freedom of the press but amplifies the ongoing concerns regarding the safety of journalists in Andhra Pradesh. The unanimous call from various quarters for accountability and protection for the media underscores the crucial role of press freedom in sustaining democracy.