Andhra to appoint officer to deal with 'false' news

The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered the appointment of a special public persecutor to take legal action against editors and publishers if they publish/broadcast any news item that is "false, baseless and defamatory in nature to the government."

The order, passed on Tuesday, has also given permission to the special commissioner, information and public relations, to lodge a complaint and file defamation cases through the prosecutor.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties in the state today petitioned the governor against police searches on the offices of Margadarsi Financiers, belonging to media baron Ramoji Rao, terming it a part of the government's onslaught on the freedom of press in the state.

Earlier in the day, members of the Telugu Desam, Party, BJP, TRS and CPI(M) stalled the Assembly proceedings, seeking an adjournment motion to discuss the issue. Speaker KR Suresh Reddy, who disallowed the motions moved by the Opposition members, adjourned the House for the day.

The Speaker, however, posted the issue for discussion under Rule 304 of the State Legislative Assembly Proceedings Act for tomorrow.

While opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu said the government action was aimed at intimidating the management of the Eenadu newspaper, state Finance Minister K Rosaiah said the searches were confined to the Margadarsi offices as the owner of the firm had collected deposits from people against the law.