Sakshi accounts not linked to freedom of press: Naidu

Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday stated that there was no link to freezing of bank accounts of Sakshi Group and freedom of press.

Talking to media persons after emerging out of meeting with party workers at Ongole in Prakasam district over the strategy for ensuing by-elections, Naidu said that no one would support the Sakshi newspaper and TV channel, which were established with tainted money of Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Stating that the freezing of accounts by the CBI would not affect the freedom of press, he accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of provoking employees to get mileage on the issue in the ensuing by-elections.

Naidu asked as to why no one expressed their concern over the arrest of Backward Class leader Bangaru Lakshman of BJP, who was recently indicted by court in connection with a fake arms deal.

The TDP chief said that rampant corruption and misrule of Congress for the last eight years, has damaged the image of the State abroad and investors were going to other states in search of green pastures. He promised that he would restore the lands acquired for VANPIC from farmers after TDP returns to power. He also said that the government would take steps to recover money from those who accumulated wealth through illegal methods.