Many prominent people are of opinion that the press freedom and the statute of right to information are experiencing quite a bad phase in Telangana, along with throughout the country. They believe that the media and all forms of journalism are being dominated by corporate powers. A round table discussion on “Corporate Dominance on Media Freedom – Impact on Society” was held at Somajiguda Press Club under the auspices of the Telangana Journalists’ Study Forum. It was attended by many leaders, journalists, intellectuals, and activists. They are of opinion that the corporate powers are having complete control over media.
What are the opinions of different people at the round table meeting?
Pasham Yadagiri, Senior Editor
The media is in the control of corporate hands. Political leaders operate media channels and newspapers. There is seldom a report that covers the news about people of the land. The ministers who run media do not want any of the activists to make it to the cabinet. In the end, the contractors have extreme powers, they even offered beer bottles to kids on KCR’s birthday. The governance and state of affairs in Telangana are completely misguided. The state is going through a rough phase where the media itself has become a giant mafia. How is Megha Krishnareddy even walking out free? CJI was insulted on a bad note, but no one responded at all. We all must fight this collectively in a legal manner.
Gade Innayya, a Telangana activist
When any of the media houses are subjected to attack, the rest of us must unite and fight for the cause. The political parties must support. What is Revanth and Bandi Sanjay afraid of? Megha Krishnareddy? Or KCR? They are the opposition, they must voice their opinions. The media must be secured to maintain democracy.
Kodandaram, TJS President
I never thought we would emerge as a state which will become the hub of illegal activities and incompetent governance. Megha Krishnareddy has become super-rich, while the rest only got poorer. The small contractors should be given opportunities, and it could be done in any way, by slicing the big projects into small ones, that never happened. A case has been registered in Khammam for telecasting a piece of breaking news on Megha. They issued strict orders on not speaking about Megha. They decided to take control of peoples’ lands through Dharani. The government is assassinating democracy on all fronts and destroying the discipline in the state. Are they doing all of this from Megha Office? or somewhere else? I am not sure of the place.
Rajanarsinha, former Deputy CM
Many media entities are doing their jobs with no ethics or morale. At least, social media is fighting the issues with no fear. The ruling party is arrogantly controlling the media in the state and continuing to rule. A chief minister should be a person everybody should look up to. But, things are so different today in Telangana. Officials like Rajat Kumar are recklessly ruling the state with the support of the CM. He is the prima face of the vote scam which was never investigated. No allegations against Rajath were taken seriously. The government is looting lakhs of crores during the Kaleshwaram project in the name of re-designing. Who are these contractors? It now seems clear why they fought for the separate state. People are in serious trouble with Dharani. This state is ruled by a monster with no values. We must take him down and maintain democracy intact.
Srinivasa Reddy, IJU National President
Should they take legal action on a magazine for even running a single ad? Megha Krishnareddy’s reputation is now gone. The media has revealed that the Megha company paid money to the officer’s daughter’s wedding ceremony at the most luxurious hotel. The court was never even involved in this matter. Media has become a business, most of the magazines in the country are running as a business. That is why even after 15 years, the National Press Commission did not come into action. Things don’t run in the same fashion in other countries.
Prof. Hargopal, Telangana activist
We have made many sacrifices for freedom and equality. But now the attitude of journalism has turned upside down. Even with the formation of the state, democracy continues to be unsustainable. Many of my students became IAS and IPS, officers. They wanted to do good work in the state but eventually ended up moving to different places after seeing the situation here. I felt very bad hearing that. There is no order of inquiry, nobody to ask anything. The problems a=in the state are real and visible.