AP Fiber Grid Is Naidu’s Attempt To Control Media: Ambati Rambabu

Vijayawada: The AP Fiber Grid project is a front for AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's dubious plans to control the media in the state, YSRCP spokesperson Ambati Rambabu said.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, he said according to TRAI rules state governments cannot be a partner to fiber grid operations. However, the CM is attempting a back door entry by providing Internet Protocol (IP) TV services, Rambabu said and added that this way he is planning to control the media and curtail those that speak against the TDP. Interestingly, all the partners in Heritage industry are also partners in the fiber grid project. The YSRCP leader pointed out that the AP government issued an ordinance which prohibits operators except APSFL from laying the fiber cables over electrical and telephone poles. The ordinance is against the law as it leaves genuine licence-holders in the lurch and they cannot lay fiber cables - on the poles or underground.

"Chandrababu and his son Lokesh term critics of AP government policies as opponents of technology. This is a malicious plan by the CM to control the media through all means possible. True, technology should reach the common man but this is not the way," Ambati Rambabu said. While cable operators will be hit by the new ordinance, the users too have to shell more money to go for the set-top boxes, he said. "The YSRCP got a stay order in the past against the state government over the same issue. The party will, therefore, continue to express solidarity with the cable operators," he added.