Rahul Gandhi blames media

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday blamed media for highlighting only his visits to Dalit houses across the country though he toured places inhabited by people of all classes.

“The media talks only about my visits to the houses of Dalits and chooses to ignore other places where I go,” he told reporters at a press conference here.

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Police book TV channel for report on YSR's death

Andhra Pradesh police Friday booked a case against a Telugu television channel for airing a 'baseless and malicious' report about the alleged conspiracy behind the death of chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash last year.

Police booked a case against TV 5, which aired the story based on a report on a Russian website. Cases under sections 153/3A (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 502 A (sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter) were registered at Jubilee Hills police station here.

Director General of Police R.R. Girish Kumar told reporters that notices would also be issued to other TV channels which aired the story after TV 5 began telecasting it Thursday night.

The report led to a series of attacks on Reliance shops throughout the state, since it had alleged a role by the firm in the helicopter crash that killed YSR.

The police chief warned that stern action would be taken against those indulging in violence. Prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed in the state in view of the shutdown called by loyalists of the late chief minister in some districts

Irresponsible media forced Reliance outlets attacked in A.P

Several installations of the Reliance group across Andhra Pradesh were attacked late on Thursday night after a Telugu television channel aired a report alleging a high-level conspiracy behind Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a helicopter crash on September 2.

It was based on a report on a Russian website, The Exiled, which alleged that YSR was the victim of a plot centring around offshore gas reserves in the Krishna-Godavari basin. Reliance Industries Limited owned by Mukesh Ambani is operating these gas fields off the Kakinada coast.

YSR’s son and Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, in a statement, expressed shock at the report and said he would mount pressure on the Centre to investigate the conspiracy angle.

He appealed to people to maintain calm, saying destruction of property was not a solution.