NEW DELHI: Press Council of India Chairman (PCI), Justice (r) Markandey Katju, on Thursday, described the collected statements made by Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao Telangana minister in relation to the media as "highly objectionable and totally unacceptable in a democracy. "
In a statement, former judge of the Supreme Court said it has been reported that Rao, recently declared that he would break the necks and bury the media 10 km underground in response to some alleged derogatory remarks made against some MLAs for certain regional Telugu TV channel.
Katju said that while this type of derogatory remarks were made by the TV channel, which were inadequate, and the media should refrain from using such comments.
The president of PCI, however, said he had been informed that the television channel allegedly made derogatory statements has repeatedly apologized for doing it on your TV channel through DTH service, as well as letters to the President of the Assembly and all Telangana Telangana MLAs.
"However, as a reaction to these observations TV channel reported that the head of Telengana minister has, from a public platform, said that the neck will break and bury the media 10 kilometers underground, if someone to denigrate or hurt the self-respect of Telengana, its legislature, or culture.
"What kind of language is that?" Katju asked.
He said that this type of language used by the chief minister of the media is "highly offensive, totally unjustified and inappropriate."
"This statement by the prime minister is, in my opinion, very improper, highly reprehensible and totally unacceptable in a democracy, especially because it comes from a person who holds a high constitutional office," Katju said.
Katju said India Journalists Union (IJU) and its affiliate Union of Journalists Working Telangana (TUWJ) had sent a statement for them, "criticizing the threats issued by the CM of Telangana".
He said he has been informed that "under pressure from the Telangana, cable operators' Associations (MSO) has suspended the transmission through cable operators two TV channels, TV 9 and ABN Andhra Jyothi (although ABN Andhra Jyothi had not even televise such derogatory comments, or other derogatory comments against Telengana MLAs) ".
"I appeal to Chief Minister of Telangana as well as cable operators associations" to remove the immediate suspension orders, so that these two television can begin to work again, "Katju said.
"Freedom of the media is guaranteed by our Constitution, and can not validly be suppressed in this way," he said.
