#AndhraPradesh: Editors Guild of India condemns ‘unwritten ban’ on TV5, ABN Andhra Jyothi by YSR Congress

The Editors Guild of India issued a statement today condemning the “unwritten ban” imposed by the YSR Congress government in Andhra Pradesh on Telugu news channels TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyothi. While the original statement embarrassingly asked the “Telangana government to clarify”, it was later corrected to “Andhra Pradesh”.

The News Minute reports that TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyothi have been taken off many cable TV networks in Andhra Pradesh. TV5 is owned by businessman BR Naidu and ABN Andhra Jyothi by Vemuri Radhakrishna.

The report says: “Senior executives with the channels allege the cable operators have stopped airing their news channels for the past couple of days per instructions from the ruling YSRCP in the state.” The report also quotes a TV5 representative who “named three ministers with the Andhra Pradesh cabinet who allegedly instructed the cable operators to drop the two news channels”.

According to The News Minute, in July, the Andhra Pradesh government revoked access to TV5, ABN Andhra Jyothi and ETV from telecasting live from inside the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly media box. In March, the YSR Congress had barred TV5 from its press briefing and interactions.