Andhra Pradesh: State official loses job for criticising Chandrababu Naidu-led government on FB

An ex-Andhra Pradesh chief secretary lost his job on Tuesday for allegedly making comments against certain decisions of the Chandrababu Naidu-led government on social media.

As per reports in Hindustan Times, IVR Krishna Rao was sacked as chairperson of Andhra Pradesh Brahmin Welfare Corporation on Tuesday. Apart from his posts, Rao had allegedly also shared certain posts written by others against Naidu and the ruling Telugu Desam Party on his Facebook page.

The orders sacking Rao were issued soon after he met the chief minister in Amaravati to offer an explanation for his posts on social media.

Rao had allegedly questioned the government’s decision to grant entertainment tax exemption to the Telugu film – Gautami Putra Satakarni, in which Naidu’s brother-in-law Nandamuri Balakrishna was the lead character and also allowing the distributors of Baahubali-2 to screen more shows in theatres and increase the ticket prices.

Rao also found fault with the Naidu government for arresting and filing cases against social media activist Inturi Ravi Kiran, who allegedly posted satirical cartoons against the chief minister and his son Nara Lokesh.

He shared the comments and counter-postings of some of his friends on Facebook, attacking Naidu.

However, Rao strongly defended his postings.