On June 26, Newslaundry carried a report on the alleged blocking of two news channels, Andhra Jyothi andTV9, in Telangana. We reported that the channels were blocked on instructions from the Chief Minister of Telangana, KC Rao, because the channels allegedly portrayed the new government in a bad light.

Since then though, the state government has washed its hands off the episode. In a statement to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), the state government submitted that the decision to take the channels off-air was taken by the state’s cable Multi-System Operators (MSOs) and that the government had no hand in it. The government’s stand, however, comes across as a tad unconvincing since members of the governing Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), had then sought for a privilege motion to be passed against one of the channels in the State Assembly.

Battling the blocking

The channels had approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court in July, challenging the alleged blocking. At the court hearing, cable MSOs stated that the decision to air a channel is contingent on an arrangement between them and the channel concerned. They contended that since operators can telecast a limited number of channels, it was their prerogative to choose what channels they wished to air keeping their business interests in mind. Since the mater involved two private entities, the court decreed the MSOs and the channels concerned sort their differences out of court.

The channels then approached the I&B ministry and filed a petition with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). The MSOs in response to the petition by the channels now stated that airing of the channels could trigger violence in the state.

The TDSAT, however, ruled in favour of the two channels. In an order dated September 2, 2014, TDSAT directs the MSOs to restore the services of the two channels immediately, noting that “as long as the contents of the petitioner’s broadcast does not violate any law, it cannot be taken off-air on threat of violence”.

The TDSAT order (of which Newslaundry has a copy) takes cognizance of the MSOs’ security concerns and directs the Home Secretary, State of Telangana and Superintendent of Police, Hyderabad to give “full protection to the personnel and properties” of the MSOs.

The I&B ministry, it is understood from the TDSAT order, also took up the matter with the Telangana government but is not authorised “to do much” in the matter as law and order is a state subject.

Protests hit the streets

As of Tuesday evening, the channels continue to remain off-air in Telangana, leading to widespread protests across the state. Speaking to Newslaundry, an editor with one of the channels said that in spite of apologising several times for the purportedly derogatory content that offended the Chief Minister, the state government has refused to budge. “There is a clear directive by the TDSAT to the MSOs to restore the channels, but they are resisting because they are being backed by the state government,” said the journalist. Newslaundry’s multiple calls and text messages to President of MSOs, Subhash Reddy, remained unanswered at the time of the story going online.

Women journalists from the two organisations who had assembled in front of the CM’s house in Hyderabad today to protest against the blackout were forcibly evicted, according to eye-witnesses.

In Warangal, where the CM is on an official visit, journalists waving black flags at the CM’s convoy were allegedly rounded-up by the police.

Controlling media

Recent developments are, however, not new or unique in the region where most political parties own – or at least indirectly control – newspapers and television channels and often use them as propaganda tools. In what seems almost like a tit-for-tat reaction, Namaste Telangana  – a TRS-owned daily – claims that it was restricted from covering the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly proceedings.

It is perhaps important to mention that Namaste Telangana competes directly with Andhra Jyothi (the Andhra Jyoti group’s newspaper) in most markets of the region.