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Rising intolerance poses threat to democracy
The speakers were of the view that the rising ‘intolerance’ in State government and Telugu Desam Party was posing danger to democratic system in the State. The unilateral style of functioning of the State government was not able to bear any dissent or discontent, whether it was emerged from opposition parties or media or even public.
Vijayawada: An all-party meeting at Vijayawada Press Club, organised by Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) on Wednesday opposing growing attacks on journalists in the State, perceived the rising intolerance by ruling TDP functionaries as threat to democracy.
The speakers were of the view that the rising ‘intolerance’ in State government and Telugu Desam Party was posing danger to democratic system in the State. The unilateral style of functioning of the State government was not able to bear any dissent or discontent, whether it was emerged from opposition parties or media or even public.
CPM city secretary Donepudi Kasinath came down heavily on State government saying that the Chief Minister adopted double-standards on media.
The Chief Minister condemns suppression of media in neighboring State, but he did not tolerate opposition from media in his own State” he alleged. The Chief Minister himself made statements threatening media several times in the past. “Is it right for a person who is holding the post of the Chief Minister of any State,” Kasinath questioned.
TDP leaders are resorting attacks on journalists if they found any reports against them in newspapers or television channels. They cannot tolerate anti-government news. They get angry if their corruption is exposed to public.
They resort to physical and verbal attacks on even government officials also,” Kasinath charged. The State government’s rising intolerance attitude had already become a serious threat to the democratic system in the State, the lamented. “The Chief Minster and his party leaders proved many times that they could not bear any dissent and discontent against them,” he said.
BJP city president D Umamheswara Raju condemned the attacks on journalists and said that there were many platforms to complaint against journalists and news papers if there was any wrong with them. But, it was not correct to resort to physical attacks, he said.
CPI city secretary D Sankar critised that jungle rule was prevailed across the State in TDP tenure and there was no protection to people who voices dissent opinion against the government. “
No freedom for media, no opposition parties, no dissent voice. This is the TDP’s undemocratic policy,” Sankar said. AAP leader P Venkatarama Rao, Cogress spokesperson Vishnu, Vijayawada Bar Association president Manmadha Rao, IJU vice-president Amabati Anjaneyulu, APUWJ leaders Jayaraju, Chalapathi Rao, Ramarao, Sk Babu and P Nagamalleswara Rao spoke.
