Ban on TV9, ABN a hasty decision?
Hyderabad : The decision of Telangana Multi System Operators (TMSOs) Association to stop airing popular Telugu television news channels ' TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi ' has come in for sharp criticism from several quarters including journalists' body Indian Union of Journalists (IJU) which felt that the act amounted to stifling the voice of the media and assaulting the freedom of expression.
IJU leader and Press Council of India member K Amarnath told this paper that the channels, if found guilty of overstepping their limits and insulting the language and sentiments of Telangana leaders, should be hauled up as per the procedures available, but totally banning them would be unacceptable.
'It is highly condemnable in strongest terms. Who are the cable operators to curtail the freedom of expression of the media?' he asked. Even ABN Andhra Jyothi channel too voiced its concern over the unilateral move of the TMSOs.
Earlier, objecting to the manner in which TV 9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi have been belittling Telangana language and dialect, the TMSO association stopped airing these channels since Monday morning.
Addressing media, TMSO president Subash Reddy said on Monday that the Telangana MLAs have been victims of uncalled for criticism in the programmes aired by TV9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi.
He said that these news channels had been working against the principles of journalism and had been a covert supporter of Seemandhra agitations.
'Already we had stopped the telecast of TV9 across the nine districts of Telangana since Sunday evening. Now we will go ahead and stop the services in Hyderabad also,' Reddy said.
'Earlier, we had protested against these biased sections of media for projecting Telangana agitation in poor light. Channels which respect Telangana dialect alone should only be allowed in Telangana,' he said.
Stating that cable operators play a pivotal role in media, he said that the TMSOs would back the move of Telangana CM KCR who recommended constituting a special committee for taking up action against these channels.
The MSO association had also insisted both the media houses to render an apology, which TV9 had done immediately after KCR had condemned the satirical show (bullet news) in Assembly.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has kept his promise of taking stringent action against TV Channels, TV 9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi, for allegedly belittling Telangana MLAs, MLCs and Telangana State Legislature through a news item which comprises alleged malicious content.
KCR cracked the whip against these two channels and the programs were stopped from June 16 morning across Telangana State including Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.
News Posted: 17 June, 2014
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