Amaravati: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh State President P.V.N. Madhav on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack on the ABN Andhra Jyothy office, calling it a disgraceful act that struck at the very foundations of press freedom in a democratic society. He said such incidents were wholly unacceptable and represented a direct assault on the freedom of the media.

Democratic Channels Must Prevail

Addressing mediapersons, Madhav said that anyone with grievances against a news organisation's reportage must respond through democratic means rather than resort to violence. Differences of opinion, he said, should be resolved through dialogue and debate, not through intimidation or physical attacks on media establishments. He called on all political actors to uphold the democratic norms that guarantee a free press.

Jagan's Amaravati Somersaults Sow Confusion

Turning his attention to former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Madhav said the latter's repeated shifting of positions on the question of Amaravati as the State capital had created considerable confusion among the public. He remarked that Jagan's stance on the capital city had become a source of ongoing controversy, and suggested that YSRCP's own rank and file needed to demand clarity from their leader on the issue before looking elsewhere for answers.

Sakshi Media Slammed for One-Sided Coverage

Madhav also trained his guns on Sakshi Media, alleging that while the outlet freely broadcast content critical of the ruling coalition, it consistently refused to carry rebuttals or responses from alliance party leaders. He called on all media organisations to maintain balance and fairness in their reporting, stating that responsible journalism demanded that all sides of a story be presented to the public.

Jagan Urged to Shed Amaravati Antipathy

Concluding his remarks, Madhav appealed to Jagan Mohan Reddy to shed what he described as an entrenched hostility towards Amaravati and instead extend cooperation towards the State's development. He emphasised that all political parties, regardless of their differences, had a responsibility to work together in the larger interest of Andhra Pradesh and its people.