The cable operators of Telangana have stopped the telecasting of two Telugu news channels TV9 and ABN Andhrajyothy after bitter criticism of the State Government that the two channels had deliberately denigrated and mocked the Telangana legislature in their programmes.
Though officially the State Government has not taken any decision to ban the channels, the Telangana cable operators association has suo motu stopped carrying the signals of the two channels as a protest against their ‘anti-Telangana’ attitude, an allegation denied by both the channels.Significantly, Andhra-based companies own both the channels. Andhra-based individuals owned most of the Telugu media in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and they had often come under criticism from the proponents of Telangana for their biased coverage.
What came as an immediate provocation for the Telangana legislative Assembly was a programme of TV9 in which the members were ridiculed and mocked. “It is like people who use to watch films in touring talks have come and sit in the multiplex” was how the Telangana legislative Assembly described in that programme.After the video clippings of the programme were watched by the Speakers and floor leaders, the State legislative Assembly decided to take action against the channel for breach of privilege.
ABN Andhrajyothy Managing Director Radhakri-shna strongly condemned the ‘blacking out’ of the channel and blamed it on vindictive nature of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.Opposition Telugu Desam Party has also come out in support of the channels. TDP Telangana unit president l Ramanna said that his party will not allow restrictions on media. “How can you put restrictions on media for giving constructive suggestions,” he wondered.