The yellow media is seizing upon a recent incident in Anantapur regarding KIA Motors and trying to portray the YSRCP government in a poor light.
Here’s what happened: Sadashivam, a Tamil gentleman is the General Manager at KIA Motors. Apparently, Sadashivam was approached by YSRCP Mandal Convenor Mylarapu Govind Reddy and Basampally former Sarpanch Dola Ramachandra Reddy who warned him that Kia Motors should give jobs to only those who were recommended by them.
They also ordered him to hire the lorries owned by YSRCP leaders for transportation service.
Claiming that KIA Motors was making enormous profits, they reportedly stated that KIA should think of others’ well-being as well.
A scared Sadashivam filed a complaint with the police who swung into action immediately.
Anantapur SP Satya Yesubabu himself took both the YSRCP leaders into custody. He counseled them and let them go after issuing a stern warning that they would be dealt with severely if they resorted to such threatening acts again.
Now, this is what the yellow media campaign is: “After bifurcation, Andhra is in a bad position. If even the few industries we have are threatened by YSCRP Rowdies, what will be the fate of the State?”
What Govind Reddy and Ramachandra Reddy did was wrong. But the follow-up action is very significant here.
The police did not get a single call from the local MLA, MP or any other influential person asking that the culprits be let off. They were not pressurized in any way from discharging their duties by anyone in the government.
Thus the government has declared its stance on such kinds of issues and this is very reassuring to any investor.
Once they see that their complaints are being acted upon immediately, they will get the confidence to carry out their business in a relaxed atmosphere.
It is not absence of issues that companies look for when investing but how good is the rule of law. After all, crime and corruption exists even in countries like Switzerland, New Zealand and Dubai.
Therefore, the YSRCP government should be congratulated instead of being criticized for allowing the law to take its own course.
Incidentally, factionists like Paritala Ravi and JC Diwakar Reddy were notorious for extorting money from industries in their area.
When Paritala Ravi was bleeding L&T dry, why was the yellow media silent? Why did they not speak about JC Brothers after they joined the TDP?
Therefore, any attempts now by the yellow media to project Andhra as a non-investor- friendly State are bound to boomerang.
(The author is a senior journalist. Views are personal)
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