For the last several weeks, sand crisis has been the biggest issue for the opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh and it continues to dominate the front pages of the major Telugu newspapers in the state.
And for the last couple of weeks, another issue – introduction of English medium in government schools has been yet another issue hitting the headlines in the media.
On Friday, too, these two issues figured prominently in the three major Telugu dailies in the state – Eenadu, Andhra Jyothy and Sakshi.
However, two major judgements by the Supreme Court – giving clean chit to the Narendra Modi government on Rafael deal and referring the controversial Sabarimala issue to a broader bench with seven judges – have been the flyers for all the three major Telugu newspapers, because of the readers’ interest.
Apart from these two reports of SC judgements, the Telugu dailies played up Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s assertion that there is no question of going back on his decision to introduce English medium in government schools.
While Eenadu referred to Jagan’s statement that it was not possible to get higher jobs without studying in English as the medium of instruction, Andhra Jyothy said the decision was only to change the destiny of the poor students.
Sakshi obviously made it as a first lead stating that it was the first step towards changing the history of the state.
Andhra Jyothy and Sakshi also highlighted the chief minister’s announcement of providing Rs 20,000 to each poor student apart from fee reimbursement scheme.
Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu’s day-long Sand Deeksha at Vijayawada was no doubt a big news for Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy which made it their second lead, while Sakshi restricted it to a small item at the bottom of the front page.
Eenadu quoted Naidu as saying that Jagan was ignoring BCs as they supported the TDP, Andhra Jyothy said Naidu warned Jagan that it was his last chance to be in the CM’s chair.
Eenadu also carried Pawan Kalyan’s criticism against Jagan on conducting Sand Week, after the death of 50 construction workers.
Sakshi has an interesting story on “Blue Frog Technologies” which it alleged was a conspiracy of the TDP in blocking huge quantity sand using online system, thereby creating artificial scarcity in the state. It said the Cybercrime police are investigating into the background of this company.
The defection of Telugu Yuvatha president Devineni Avinash and Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi into the YSRC is another interesting story that figured in AJ and Sakshi, but was pushed into inside pages by Eenadu.
Similarly, new chief secretary Neelam Sawhney assuming charge is also another interesting news featured by Eenadu and Sakshi and ignored by Andhra Jyothy.
Sakshi carried another story that will interest readers: how Anantapur has come out of drought-like situation this year due to heavy rains that filled almost all tanks and rivers. Good to see such developmental reporting in the Telugu media, at least occasionally!