Thursday, August 18, 2005 (Hyderabad): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy wants to make media encounters with Naxals a thing of the past. Irked by the fourth estate providing a platform to those wanted by the police, Reddy has given a stern warning to journalists.
The Chief Minister says that cases could be slapped on scribes for publishing or broadcasting such interviews. "Suppose a journalist goes and interviews some criminal, some person who is wanted by law. As per the existing Act itself, it is a culpable offence. That should not be done,'' he maintains.
Through the media, Naxals had warned Congress MLA Narsi Reddy and his family that unless they put an end to their hand in the arrack business in Mahbubnagar district, they would be eliminated. A week later Narsi and his son were shot dead.
But analysts argue that it is the democratic right of the media to interview anybody and publish or telecast it.
"Media has the right to talk to them. Will the government say media should not write about it because it would encourage Maoists to do many more. Such kind of irrational arguments would not lead us anywhere,'' says K Nageshwar, political commentator.
Observers point out that often the media is the only channel to communicate with and know the mind of Naxals and shutting that door as well may not be wise.
A similar attempt to curb press freedom was made when POTA was drafted. Critics say YSR's words of advice sound like a classic case of shooting the messenger.
They say the Congress government is inviting trouble by telling journalists what they can and should not do. And it is perhaps a step towards police raj in Andhra Pradesh.
