Our readers may be reminded that Press Council of India has constituted a committee to probe in to the issue of TV9 and ABN-Andhrajyothy ban in Telangana state.
Press Council had appointed a three member committee to probe in to the issue after KCR’s statement of burying channels who work against them 10Kms deep down the ground. Senior Journalist Rajiv Ranjan is the convener of the committee and K.Amarnath, Krishna Prasad are members. The committee spoke with members present at the time of KCR’s Hate Speech and also verified the records of the happenings that lead to the ban of those channels in Telangana.
The committee has tabled its report with the Press Council of India. In the report the committee said it sees Telangana Chief Minister as the force who aided MSOs to take the decision. They said “The Chief Minister of Telangana should be directed to restrain himself from making provocative statements against journalists or in saluting and supporting organizations which seek to limit the flow of information to the people, on the basis of nativity or domicile status,.” They also mentioned that the Chief Minister and state DGP refused permission for the channel managements and staff to represent their issues regarding the ban. However many would say the report just confirmed an open secret.
