A three-member panel constituted by Press Council of India has recommended that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao be directed to restrain himself from making provocative statements against journalists.

The committee comprising journalists Rajeev Ranjan Nag, K Amarnath and Krishna Prasad was constituted by PCI Chairperson Justice (retd) Markandey Katju to probe threats to the media in Telangana after certain remarks reportedly made by Rao were brought to the Council’s notice.

While listing its findings, the panel noted that “the Chief Minister of Telangana did make the statements attributed to him from a public platform that he would break the necks and bury media persons and that they should salute the Telangana people if they wish to live in Telangana.”

The Committee said that by making these statements from a public platform, the Telangana Chief Minister had violated the letter and spirit of Article 19 (1)(a)(e)and(g) which pertain to freedom of speech and expression, freedom to reside and settle in any part of India and practise any profession.

The Committee recommended that PCI and Central Government should impress upon Rao that “blatant threats to the media and media personnel violates the oath of office he took to protect and defend the Constitution of India and follow the rule of law.”

“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,” the panel recommended in its report.

The report of the three-member committee was placed before the Press Council today and adopted, sources said.

The committee report also stated that Telangana Government should be directed to take immediate action to create conditions and atmosphere where free and fair journalism can be practiced by print and electronic media without fear of retribution by the state or the “sword of business terrorism” by non-state actors.

It sought that all cases registered against journalists for participating in protest actions should be withdrawn or fast tracked.

Prompt action should be taken against the police official responsible for attacking journalists and roughing up women journalists at Hyderabad and Warangal, the committee recommended.

The photographers and videographers whose equipment was damaged during the police action should be compensated, it said. The State should not discriminate against the journalists on the grounds of their nativity, it added.

The committee has recommended that the state government should immediately take steps to enable MSOs to withdraw their blackout of channels TV 9 and ABN Andhra Jyothy in the interest of freedom of media and people’s right to know, as enshrined in the Constitution.

It also recommended that print and electronic media organisations must put in place sterner mechanisms for greater editorial scrutiny of public interest journalism.

The Committee, in its report stated that it sought appointments with Telangana Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to elicit their views on the points of reference made to the committee.

They (Committee) waited on both days for the confirmation of appointments but to no avail, the report said.

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