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Veteran director K Raghavendra Rao, who is advisor about electronic media to the government of Andhra Pradesh, has been summoned by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to settle the issue between the Deccan Chronicle group and Telugu star Pawan Kalyan, in what has developed into a clash between journalists and the film industry.
Three popular Telugu stars were arrested and later released when they staged a dharna in front of the Deccan Chronicle office. They were protesting against what Pawan Kalyan called 'scurrilous reports' the paper and its sister Telugu publication, Andhra Bhoomi, made against him and his brother, Chiranjeevi.
Later, Nagarjuna, Srihari, Srikanth and other stars are said to have made unsavoury remarks against journalists on air, prompting the journalists' unions in the city to approach Director General of Police Ramulu.
Naidu has reportedly asked Rao to settle the matter quickly.
Meanwhile, Chiranjeevi and Kalyan's fans staged rasta rokos and organised demonstrations near Deccan Chronicle offices all over the state. The actor has since appeared on air, requesting his fans to be calm and patient.