HYDERABAD: A three-member committee constituted by the Press Council of India (PCI), to probe the threats to the media in Telangana after certain remarks reportedly made by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, has recommended that Rao be directed to refrain himself from making provocative statements against journalists.
The committee, consisting of senior journalists Rajeev Ranjan Nag (convenor), Krishna Prasad and K Amarnath, held open hearings in Hyderabad and Warangal and came to general observation that the manner in which Chandrasekhar Rao threatened the media goes against the very fundamentals of democracy and is unacceptable.
While listing its findings, the panel noted that ‘’the chief minister of Telangana did make the statements attributed to him from a public platform that he would break the necks and bury media persons and that they should salute the Telangana people if they wish to live in Telangana.’’
The committee was concerned that Rao publicly thanked and saluted the MSOs for not airing TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothy. It was in agreement that the threats were not only limited to the two news channels but to the entire media in Telangana. The committee is of the opinion that the threats not only constitute attack on media but are also in violation of Article 19 1 (a) of the Constitution. The committee recommended that PCI and Central government should impress upon Rao that ‘’blatant threats to the media and media personnel violates the oath of office he took to defend the Constitution and follow the rule of law.”
The Telangana chief minister should be directed to restrain himself from making provocative statements against journalists or in saluting and supporting organisations which seek to limit the flow of information to the people on the basis of nativity or domicile status, the panel recommended.
It also recommended that all the cases registered against journalists for participating in protests should be withdrawn or fast tracked. The committee also sought action against police officials responsible for attacking the journalists at Hyderabad and Warangal.
