Although many people know about the rivalry between the former Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the Eenadu chairman Ramoji Rao, only few people close to them knew about the special connection of mutual respect between the two top guns.

According to reports, various YSR-friendly media houses as well as reporters condemned Ramoji Rao for reporting against the government during the Margadarsi controversy was at its peak. Few also though that Ramoji Rao would be arrested soon. However, when a reporter asked about it to YSR, he reportedly, without taking the name of Rao, said that he wouldn’t believe in such scenario and even if he got arrested the government will immediately file for bail so that he would not have to face any embarrassment.

Similarly, after the sudden death of YSR, Eenadu officials were in confusion about how much coverage they should give to the death reporting considering the enmity between the Ramoji Rao and the YSR, however, Ramoji Rao visited YSR’s home after his death and reportedly told his journalists that although YSR had done few works worth criticizing, at the end, he was a people’s leader and “ur coverage should be as per people's perception of him. We should give utmost coverage for him just like we did during his 'Padayathra' time.”

It is surprising that although they had nothing in common between them and criticized each other, they shared a great connection of mutual respect between each other.

By Prajakt