As per CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s directions, the cabinet has passed GO. No. 938 on Wednesday. The Government Order gives powers to the secretaries of respective departments to act and take action against media. This is applicable to print media, TV media, web media and even posts by individuals on social media. AP government claims the move is to stop “false” and “malafide” news and content against the government.
The GO. No. 938 empowers secretaries of the concerned department to initiate legal action against the publishers and Editors if “false news” was telecast or published. The state cabinet opines that such news could “hamper the progress of the state.” With the GO, the government could initiate legal action and move defamation suit against the media.
Such GO is not new. Earlier, former CM late YS Rajasekhar Reddy had brought similar GO in undivided state of Andhra Pradesh to curb media’s freedom. On February 20, 2007 , then CM and the Chairman of the Media Watch YS Rajasekhara Reddy had first issued GO. No.938. However, it had invited a huge wrath from media fraternity. Following protests, Rajasekhara Reddy had withdrawn the GO.
Now, YSR’s son YS Jagan has brought the same GO. It needs to be seen how media would react and face the Jagan administration given that ‘Freedom Of Speech’ is at stake.
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