TDP supremo Chandrababu has said that there was no link between froze of accounts of Sakshi media house (run by Jagan) by CBI and freedom of speech. He made these statements in the wake of noted journalists supporting the agitation of couple of journalists from Sakshi who ’ termed’ the froze of current accounts as damage caused to the ‘freedom of press’.

Chandrababu Naidu raised interesting question pertaining to the same agitation by a few journalist associations. He had questioned in case notorious criminals like Dawood Ibraham and Bhanu Kiran set up newspapers, should they be really recognized as part and parcels of fourth estate.

Babu has also said as to why these people, who had been crying foul over the entire episode, remained mute when searches were going on at Andhra Jyothi and Eenadu newspapers.

All in all, not just Chandrababu Naidu but there are also handful of journalists who strongly feel that CBI blocking accounts of an accused cannot be linked with freedom of press.

One can only call ‘damage to freedom of press’ only if the shutters of newspapers/printing presses are rolled down forcefully like what English East India Company did under  Vernacular Press Act, 1878.