DC debate: Freedom of press in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

Press silenced in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

Amar Devulapalli
Secretary-general, Indian Journalists’ Union

In the history of independent India, this has been the very first time  when two news channels have been forced off the air due to a decision taken by the Multi-System Operators (MSO), who have nothing to do with the content of electronic media.

It has been over 100 days since TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi, the two blocked news channels went off air in the newly formed Telangana state. According to the MSOs, the two channels were “against the people of Telangana.”

The stand taken by the Telangana state government raises several questions. The most important among them is: Do the regional and sub-regional parties have no respect for freedom of expression? In the light of certain past incidents, it can be said that regional parties in power have had some kind of aversion towards the media.

Participating in the centenary celebrations of the famous poet and great democrat, Kaloji Narayana Rao, at Warangal on September 9, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandra-sekhar Rao had showered praises on the MSOs for stopping telecast of the two channels. He went on to say that people, or the media, who want to live in Telangana state must “salute us,” or else “we will break their necks” and “bury them 10 km beneath the ground.”

If the reason given for stopping telecast of TV9 is because of the satirical programme belittling the legislators during the oath-taking ceremony, then there is no specific charge against ABN Andhra Jyothi channel. The TV programme was widely condemned and the channel management had publicly apologised. Still, the Assembly had unanimously recommended that the Assembly Speaker take action against the channel. Yet, even as the issue is still remains pending with the Speaker, the MSOs have stopped telecast.

This issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha and the union I&B minister Prakash Javadekar had promised action against the erring MSOs. However, till date, there has been no action.

Meanwhile, following a  representation made by the Indian Journalists’ Union, the Press Council of India constituted a committee, which toured Telangana last week and is expected to submit its report.

However, media freedom is equally at risk in Andhra Pradesh. AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has barred  Telugu daily Sak-shi and its news channel, regional newspaper Namaste Telangana, and T News channel from attending his official press conferences. Thou-gh journalists from these media houses receive official invitations from the AP I&PR department, security personnel bar them from attending the press meets claiming that they have the instru-ctions from the CM  to do so. As innumerable representations made by the Journalists’ Union members have proved futile, the issue has now  been taken up by the Press Council of India. The PCI has constituted another committee to look into the matter and it is expected to tour AP from Tuesday.

It is unfortunate that within 100 days of formation of two new states, the respective governments have muzzled the media. Also, there is lack of unity among the Telugu media.

In TS, the two channels, which have been attac-ked, have not received support by the rest of the media fraternity. Similarly, in AP the curbs on the newspapers and channels were not criticised. This has given ample scope for the government to behave in an undemocratic manner.


Cable firms imposed ban

T. Sriranga Rao
Leader of Telangana Advocates’ JAC

ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV 9 channels have been  systematically targeting the MSOs and the Telangana state government to get the ban on telecast lifted.

The news reports that was aired on their respective television channels, following the formation of the new state, had deeply hurt the sentiments of the people in the Telangana state. It was in light of this incident that the MSOs, who are also a part of the Telangana society, had reacted sharply and banned both the television channels.

There was not an iota of resentment any form of protest by the people of Telangana against the decision of the MSOs.

Both the channels are aware of the fact that there is no law in existence that empowers the state government to exercise control over the MSOs. It was their (MSOs’) decision to ban the telecast of these two channels and the state government had nothing do with it.

Soon after the telecast of the derogatory episo-des by both ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV9 there was a discussion on the floor of the Telangana State Assem-bly and all political parties, including the Telugu Desam, had condemned the news telecast that was aired by the two  channels. The parties unanimously passed a resolution delegating the Speaker to take action against the television channels.

The Speaker was empowered to take any decision in this case and the powers of the Speaker are beyond reproach. The Supreme Court had also previously upheld the powers of the Speaker for a judgment that was delivered in 1956, with regard to the arrest of a journalist who had reported some derogatory news against the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

In that case, the Speaker had gone to the extent of ordering the arrest of the judge who had stayed the order for  the arrest of the journalist. Later, the entire judiciary was involved in the matter and the Apex Court went on to uphold the sentence given by the Speaker since the court did not have the power to enter the domain of the Speaker. That verdict still remains in force.

The Telangana state Speaker, however, has not yet taken a decision against the two erring channels.

If the Speaker decides that both the channels had insulted the members of the Telangana state Assembly, the situation is likely is likely to become even more serious.

The double standards of both the channels should be condemned. On one hand, they are accusing the Telangana state government of suppressing freedom of press, on the other hand, they have not uttered a word against the Telugu Desam government’s decision against media organisations in Andra Pradesh. The TD government has banned T News programmes in the state and it has also barred the Namaste Telangana, Sakshi daily and Sakshi TV from attending party programmes. Does the so called freedom of press apply only to them and not the others in the industry? What kind of attitude is this? If they really fight for freedom of the press, they must be fair in their approach.

Self-respect is the basic foundation on which the separate state of Telangana has been formed. The entire state will fight against any such force that tries to harm or hurt the self-respect of any individual in the state.

The MSOs have understood this, and that is why  despite protests, are not willing to telecast any programmes aired by ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV9.