Youth Congress workers attack 'Andhra Jyothi' office

Tirupati, Feb.7: - Activists of the Youth Congress here on Saturday raided the offices of 'Andhra Jyothi' newspaper, protesting against what the paper wrote about the Chief Minister's son Mr Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. They have damaged furniture.

The Youth Congress workers staged a dharna at the 'Andhra Jyothi' office in Kadapa also. They blindfolded themselves and raised slogans against the paper.

Reacting to the incident, the Indian Journalists Union and the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists condemned the attack on the 'Andhra Jyothi' office at Renigunta, Tirupati by the Youth Congress activists on Saturday afternoon.

In a pressnote, the IJU secretary-general, Mr K Sreenivas Reddy, and the APUWJ President, Mr D Somasundar, stated that this was not the first time such an attack took place the paper's office. It is a direct attack on the Constitutional right of free expression and freedom of the press. The attack exposes the intolerance of a section of the political class towards the press, they added.

They also demanded that the police take steps to bring the culprits to the book and punish them sternly. They also urged the police to ensure protection to the Andhra Jyothi offices across the State