BJP hits out at Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Reddy said that attacks on the media have increased across the state under TRS rule and cautioned the government that it was not good for democracy.

“If you think that any media group is in the wrong, you can initiate action as per law. But you are trying to terrorise the media with threats. You have created situation in which the media cannot function freely. You said in Warangal that you will bury the media 10 km deep,” Mr Reddy said amid protests from ruling benches.

Mr Reddy stated that the “anti-media stand” of top TRS leaders has been encouraging party cadres to resort to attacks. “Attacks on media offices and journalists have increased in rural areas. Your cadres think that this is the policy of the TRS government and they too follow it if anything negative is reported against them in the media,” he added.

He said the TRS government was just indulging in talk since the last six months. He questioned the government on the delay in identifying the families of Telangana martyrs and razing of the buildings of Ayyappa Society in the city to blackmail certain sections.

Mr Reddy also referred to Hyderabad MP Asadaduddin Owaisi’s comments that the steering of the Telangana government was in his hands creating uproar in the House.

He asked why the Telangana government had not responded to the remark and said it was sending wrong signals to the people.

“It is highly objectionable to say that the steering of a democratically-elected government is under the control of a leader of another party. Despite this, the government had neither bothered to deny nor respond to these remarks. Does it not send a wrong signal to the people?” Mr Reddy asked.

MIM members strongly objected to this and alleged that the BJP has been protecting the perpetrators of the Mecca Masjid blasts by arguing their court cases.

“The media has misquoted Owaisi’s remarks. He was only referring to driving his own car. In fact he is the only leader who drives his car without any security,” they said.