Is the Attack on ‘Sakshi’ Offices an Assault on Democracy?

Amaravati, June 10 (NationPress) Former Andhra Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has denounced the coordinated assaults on ‘Sakshi’ media offices throughout the state, branding it a calculated attack on democracy.

He criticized the arrest of senior journalist and ‘Sakshi TV’ anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, stating that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is distorting and misrepresenting statements made by Kommineni to wrongfully implicate him and justify an unjust arrest.

“In a premeditated scheme, mobs affiliated with the TDP have damaged Sakshi unit offices in various districts under the false pretense of safeguarding women's dignity. This is merely a politically motivated vendetta disguised as concern for women,” Jagan asserted in a post on ‘X’.

Srinivasa Rao was taken into custody on Monday and subsequently placed in judicial custody by a Guntur court on Tuesday for supposedly making derogatory remarks about women in the Amaravati area during his show.

The Sakshi news television channel and its associated newspaper are owned by Jagan Mohan Reddy’s family.

Jagan challenged the moral integrity of Chandrababu Naidu, referencing his brother-in-law Balakrishna and past controversial comments. “You once posed a question about a daughter-in-law's preference between her mother-in-law and her husband. Your brother-in-law even suggested that when you see a girl, you should either kiss her or make her pregnant. Is this how you uphold respect for women?” Jagan articulated.

The former Chief Minister accused Chandrababu of utterly failing to ensure the safety and justice of women and girls since regaining power. He drew attention to the tragic case of Tanmayi, an intermediate student from Anantapur who went missing and was later discovered brutally murdered, with no prompt action from the authorities.

He also highlighted a distressing incident in Ramagiri mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district, where a 9th-grade girl was blackmailed and raped by 14 men over six months, yet police remained inactive due to intimidation and negligence.

“In just one year of TDP governance, 188 women and girls have been raped, with 15 murdered post-assault. Numerous cases of harassment and violence remain unresolved,” Jagan remarked, labeling it a total collapse of law and order.

He criticized the TDP administration for dismantling education, healthcare, agriculture, and public safety. “You made false promises like ‘Super Six’ and ‘Super Seven’ to gain votes, but after assuming power, you betrayed every single commitment. The public now perceives you as a failed, corrupt, and inept Chief Minister.”

Jagan concluded by asserting that in a bid to evade accountability, Chandrababu resorts to using fake news entities and media manipulation to spread misinformation and distract the public. “Your diversionary tactics won't be effective indefinitely, Chandrababu garu. The people are observant and will ensure you are held accountable.”