(S.Ravi Seshu)
Andhra Pradesh opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s newspaper, Sakshi, is diluting the spirit of journalism in all possible ways by launching a foul campaign against the Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu’s son, Lokesh, Telugu Desam Party’s national general secretary. Alas, political vendetta is raising its ugly head in the guise of journalism.
After having failed to make a mountain out of a molehill by using a photograph featuring Lokesh and Deputy Chief Minister N.Chinna Rajappa, Sakshi newspaper, in its Tuesday edition, published a story along with Lokesh photos with some foreign girls. They are apparently taken during Lokesh’s college days and the intention of publishing them is indeed to malign his reputation.
Titled, “Aaahaa, yemi sabhyata? yem samskaram? (What a decency and decorum?”, the story targetted Lokesh for talking about culture and values in an open letter to Jagan Mohan Reddy recently.
The story tried to depict that Lokesh had a gala time in the USA with wine and women. Two white women are seen resting on the shoulders of Lokesh in a party setting in a photograph while the second one shows Lokesh in a swimming pool with a liquor bottle on poolside. The story is based on the statement of YSRCP spokesperson Ambati Rambabu, a super trick developed by Jagan’s newspaper. The newspaper reproduced the photograph of Lokesh showing finger at the Deputy CM.
Sakshi seems to be inspired by the murky US presidential campaign in which Republican nominee Donald Trump is being exposed on the ‘decency’ front. A video footage taken a decade ago is making rounds to show that Trump is sexist and male chauvinist. “Sakshi never resort to this cheap trick. Editors of the newspaper seem to be inspired the US kind of politics and stepped up their campaign against Lokesh to show him in poor light” a senior journalist observed.
How can Kondubhatla Ramachandra Murthy, Sakshi’s Editorial Board chief, who always talks about ethical journalism, is allowing such foul reportage? Is it difficult for TDP-supporters–Eenadu and Andhra Jyothi–to find out equally embarrassing college day photos of Jagan to malign his reputation? Where is the end for their political vengeance?
A clarification: This doesn’t mean that Telugu360 is supporting Lokesh or his omissions or commissions. We only wish a fair play.
