Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Minister's bid to censure media sparks protest

Staff Reporter

Koneru withdraws remarks and tenders apology

ANANTAPUR: Remarks against the media made by Minister for Municipal Administration Koneru Ranga Rao during the Rayalaseema regional conference of municipal commissioners here on Monday led to a spontaneous protest by the journalists covering the meeting seeking withdrawal of the Minister's remarks.

The mediapersons staged a protest outside the DRDA Abhyudaya Hall where the meet was being held for about an hour, raising slogans for an unconditional apology and withdrawal of remarks.

Beginning of trouble

It all started when the Minister asked videographers and lensmen of a few television news channels and newspapers to leave the meeting as they had already taken the pictures.

A few reporters covering the meeting objected to the Minister's remarks, and urged him to withdraw his words. This irritated the Minister further and he asked the media why they had come to cover the meeting when there was no invitation for them. Journalists' efforts to make the Minister name the newspaper/channel which had published/telecast false information were in vain as the Minister was adamant by stating that "I will definitely criticise the media for its biased reporting".

Protest staged

Mediapersons covering the meeting came out and staged a protest. District Collector Dasari Kadmiel and Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration Veena Ish tried to pacify the mediapersons, but in vain.

Finally, the Minister came out of the meeting and withdrew his remarks and apologised for his emotional reaction, if it had hurt a section of the media. "My comments were not general but specific. A particular daily has attributed statements to me that I have not spoken. I have great respect for the media and am not so powerful to take on it."

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