VHR Condemns KCR's Speech Against Media

Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao strongly condemned the reported speech of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wherein he threatened to take physical action against media professionals.

Speaking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, VHR described the Chief Minister's speech as a direct attack on the freedom of the media, and an attempt to intimidate journalists working in Telangana.

He said that it was strange that KCR had made these remarks while addressing a meeting connected with freedom fighter Kalogi Narayana Rao, who wrote several articles and poems against the Nizam and the Razakars.

He said that the last Nizam had also taken action against the Rayyat newspaper which had published Narayan Rao's articles and revolutionary poems.

However, he pointed out that even the Nizam had not banned any media organisation permanently.

Demanding the lifting of the ban on 2 Telugu news channels (TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi) in Telangana, VHR alleged that the Chief Minister was trying to give an impression that the decision to stop the telecast was taken by the MSOs, while it was actually KCR himself who was directly responsible for the blackout of the two channels, and asked him to take steps to restore their broadcast.

Praising the role played by the media during the Telangana agitation, the Congress MP also appealed to media professionals to act responsibly in reporting incidents.

He said that the media played a crucial role in the formation of Telangana by promptly reporting the suicides of the youth and others seeking statehood for Telangana.

Therefore, he said that the media deserved better treatment in the new State.

TPCC spokesperson B Kamalakar Rao and former MLA M Kondada Reddy were also present. (INN)