Jayadev raises GO No 2430 in Lok Sabha

Guntur: Guntur MP Galla Jayadev raised the issue of Go No 2430 by the Andhra Pradesh government in Lok Sabha on Monday and alleged that the order was aimed at stifling the voice of media.

He said the GO delegated power to the officials to file defamation cases against the newspapers which publish adverse news items and TV channels which telecast news unpalatable to the powers-that-be.

Raising the issue during zero hour, the Guntur MP said that the state government had imposed an unofficial ban on TV channels and newspapers which it perceived not favourable to it.

He alleged that attacks on journalists had also increased in the state and a journalist working for Telugu daily was stabbed to death.

He urged the Centre to intervene and force the government to cancel the GO which curtails the freed of press.