Senior journalist Devulapalli Amar, who used to be very active in the media circles as a journalists’ union leader, has not been seen and heard much after he was appointed as YSRC government’s advisor for national media and inter-state affairs a year ago.
One does not know what advices Amar had been giving to chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and there have hardly been any instances of him interacting with national media correspondents, except an odd-press conference.
Surprisingly, on Tuesday, Amar reacted strongly to a comment made by Communist Party of India, AP unit secretary K Ramakrishna on the futility of advisors to the Jagan government.
Reacting to the resignation of senior journalist K Ramachandra Murthy as the advisor to Jagan government on public policy, the CPI leader said it was a wise decision as there was nothing much for the advisors to do in the government.
“They are just ornamental posts and there are no instances of Jagan taking any advices from these advisors in the last one year. It is better all of them resign,” Ramakrishna said.
Though the CPI secretary did not specifically refer to any particular advisor, Amar chose to react strongly. Describing Ramakrishna’s comments uncharitable, uncalled for and made in bad taste, the national media advisor said the suggestions made by advisors are usually not in public domain.
“The suggestions are not like press releases or public demonstrations of political parties. At the same time, they are not like backdoor efforts of some sections of political parties to gain political mileage or stakes,” he said.
Taking pot shots at the CPI, Amar said: “the advisors are not like political parasites who stoop down to any level for the sake of entering in legislatures nor are they like some leaders who do somersaults for political gains and other benefits.”
“I strongly believe that the advisors are not obligated to make public the suggestions made by them, more so to politicians like Ramakrishna. My sincere suggestion to Ramakrishna is that he should rope in some advisors for himself so that the CPI shows some improvement in Andhra Pradesh,” Amar said.
