As usual, the yellow media in Andhra Pradesh had twisted chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s statement on Visakhapatnam Steel Plant issue.
Jagan Mohan Reddy had interacted with the leaders of the steel plant trade unions and told them in firm tone that the state government would not allow POSCO to enter Visakhapatnam and the Assembly would pass a resolution against disinvestment in steel plant.
He suggested allocation of captive mines to the steel plant to save it from unwarranted financial burden.
He then suggested that the loans given by the banks may be converted into equity shares so that the interest on loans burden would be reduced.
He further suggested that the land bank could also be used to save the plant.
The steel plant has over 27,000 acres of land which can be sold to raise funds, as a last resort.
However, the media ignored the first two suggestions and highlighted the third alternative to divert the attention of the people and the trade unions.
Interestingly, the trade union leaders have expressed confidence in the leadership of Jagan Mohan Reddy after his interaction with them.
To disturb and divert the trade union leaders in particular and the people in general, the yellow media highlighted the last suggestion of Jagan.
Irony for the yellow media is that the social media had already exposed them and their style of presentation of news.
The 2019 elections have proved that whatever the yellow media writes in Andhra Pradesh, will not be consumed by the people as they used to be in the past.
It is high time that the media in Andhra Pradesh learn lessons, though not too late, and correct itself to fit in the role of watchdog for democracy.
