(With inputs from Ravi Seshu)
YSR Congress scores self-goal on a Lokesh video
If you are a reader of Sakshi or it’s web partner Great Andhra, you can’t read past an article without the words ‘Pacha Patrikalu’ or ‘Yellow Media’. Now let’s look at this instance from yesterday and how these media portals with taglines ‘Satyameva Jayathe’ and ‘Dare to write’ presented to their readers anything but truth.
TDP has organized a three day brainstorming session for its leaders in KL University recently,released photos to the media . Picking on one of those photos , ‘Sakshi’ published a small comment-centric news bit on Friday under a title “Idemi raajakeeya siksha (what is this political punishment?).” Citing nitizens, it alleged that the Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu’s son scolded the Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala China Rajappa unmindful of his experience and age in a training camp. . It’s accomplice Greatandhra didn’t want to stay behind and published an article “Lokesh Humiliates Deputy CM” spitting venom on Lokesh.
The news bit was accompanied by YSRCP leader Botsa Satyanarayana, who took “exception” to Lokesh’s behaviour. He observed that China Rajappa was shivering with fear. “This party failed to give respect to the elderly Deputy Chief Minister. Then how can it safeguard the self-respect of Telugu people?” he questioned in his own style.
However, what has transpired is completely different. Lokesh has been talking to the TDP leaders about ‘Grama committees’, one of the TDP leaders is arguing against Lokesh’s point of view on a particular clause about electing mandal commmitte. At that point (1:25m), Chinna Rajappa came forward to support Lokesh on the topic and added additional context to the issue. Watch this short video for yourself and see how media takes readers for a ride. Check the video at 1:25 and see for yourself how Lokesh ‘humiliated’ Chinna Rajappa.
Lokesh also took to twitter to say the following line: Here is the proof to set the record straight for our opposition. My humble request, please stop petty politics.”I am the family member of Chandrababu Naidu. The story is an attempt to malign Lokesh,” clarified Chinna Rajappa to the media. People of Andhra Pradesh should be ready to see bad-worse-ugly from both sides in the days to come!
Update:
Sakshi instead of apologizing decided to go on offensive and published an article today in page 13 titled ‘aa Photo enduku teesesaaro mari‘ (Why did Lokesh remove the photo?. The article further goes on to say that that photo in discussion is not in the video. Sakshi team — Please check the video above at 1:20 minutes. You can see the photographer in the left clicking the photo, which created controversy. It is regrettable to see these type of news under the leadership of respected journalist Ramachandra Murthy.
