When YSR Congress party led by former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was in power, reporters from pro-Telugu Desam Party newspapers and media houses like Eenadu, Andhra Jyothy, ABN and TV5 used to complain that they were facing threat to their lives from the YSRCP leaders for writing negative reports against the Jagan government and exposing various scams.
It appears the situation has not changed even after the change of government. Now, even the TDP leaders are threatening reporters of Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy if they present facts while doing the ground reporting.
In the latest episode, TDP legislator from Srikalahasti Bojjala Sudheer Reddy allegedly threatened local Eenadu reporter of dire consequences for writing a story on the MLA encouraging sand mafia in the constiteuncy.
Apparently, Eenadu carried a story stating that some political leaders were illegally collecting Rs 500 per tractor load of sand lifted from Vikrutamala and Munagalapalem in Erpedu mandal of Srikalahasti constituency.
Though TDP president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is claiming that sand is being supplied free of cost to the consumers, the MLA has allegedly been collecting kickbacks from the consumers for carrying sand.
Obviously angered by the report, Sudheer Reddy called the reporter and threatened him saying he would be finished if he writes such stories against him again.
“Why didn’t you write such stories during the YSRCP government? If you continue to write such stories, you will be finished,” he warned.
On Saturday, Eenadu reporter carried another story narrating how the MLA threatened him without even giving him an opportunity to explain the facts.
Needless to say, the report went into the notice of the chief minister. He immediately called up Bojjala and sought his explanation. He warned the MLA against indulging in collection of commission on sand supply and asked him why he threatened the reporter, who belongs to a pro-TDP daily.
Bojjala realised that he got himself into trouble and tried to give an explanation to Naidu, but the latter did not give him any such chance, sources said.
