It is a well-known fact in the Telugu states that ever since bifurcation, political parties have began cracking a whip on Telugu news channels. While TV9 and ABN had faced Telangana Rashtra Samithi’s (TRS) ire and crackdown for being anti-Telangana, Sakshi in AP has faced the heat from Telugu Desam Party.
Now, YSR Congress Party’s mouthpiece Sakshi is known to be run by the party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. YSRCP has already blacklisted Eenadu and Andhrajyoti media groups, along with TV5. Now, the party believes that another channel is wreaking havoc on its image in the state and hence, has decided to blacklist it from their list of media. TV5 is another channel which is said to have annoyed Jagan personally, with its negative stories on YSRCP. Apparently, 99TV which promotes and supports Jana Sena Party has made it to this list of media houses that need to be kept away by the YSRCP.
99TV, according to YSRCP leaders, has been airing anti-YSRCP and anti-Jagan stories which seem to have upset the party high command and hence, has taken this decision. Additionally, the party alleges that several Telugu Desam Party supporters and followers are using the clips from this channel to spread propaganda against Jagan. “TV5 reporters have been removed from YSRCP media group. Even 99TV is facing the same thing,” said a source from the party.
However, while Telugu Desam Party hasn’t banned any channel or media outlet, Sakshi media group’s journalists are barred from questioning in the party’s press conferences.
