ABN Executive Editor’s “Get out of my show” order to BRS MLC triggers uproar

An on-air remark by ABN Andhra Jyothy Executive Editor P. Venkata Krishna telling BRS MLC T. Ravinder Rao to “get out of my debate” has sparked outrage in Telangana, with demands from various sections for the BRS to boycott the channel and newspaper.

Hyderabad: ABN Andhra Jyothy Executive Editor P Venkata Krishna ordering BRS MLC T Ravinder Rao to “get out of his debate” has triggered an uproar, with people from different sections demanding that the BRS boycott the channel and the Andhra Jyothy newspaper.

On Friday evening, BRS MLC T Ravinder Rao was invited for a debate on ongoing political developments. Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar was also part of the discussion. The debate focused on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) notices issued to former Ministers KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao and the questioning that followed, after Rama Rao came out of the Jubilee Hills ACP office.

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During the discussion, as participants spoke about alleged information leaks being shared with select media channels during the questioning, the BRS MLC took strong objection to what he termed false leaks. He also condemned television channels for broadcasting such news without confirmation.

Intervening, Venkata Krishna asked the MLC to control his language and withdraw his remarks. However, the MLC refused to do so.

Reacting sharply, Venkata Krishna told the MLC, “Get out of my debate,” to which Ravinder Rao responded, “I will quit the debate.”

The video of Venkata Krishna ordering the BRS MLC to leave the debate has since gone viral on social media.

Both Andhra Jyothy newspaper and the ABN television news channel have been accused of being biased and of favouring the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), hailing from Andhra Pradesh. After the Congress came to power in Telangana, the channel and the newspaper were also accused of shielding the Congress government.

Since the separate Telangana agitation, the newspaper and the news channel have been critical of Telangana. People from different sections have been raising demands to boycott the publication and the news channel in the State.

Taking to X, former Digital Media Director Konatham Dileep said that for a long time Telangana and its people had been belittled and mocked by what he described as the yellow media.

“Soon after Telangana was formed in 2014, they unleashed their vicious attitude towards elected representatives, Andhra Jyothy was boycotted for a few months by Telangana people. Again, it is resorted to the same attitude,” he said.

“Yesterday, BRS MLC T Ravinder Rao was invited for a TV debate and abused saying ‘get out of my debate’. This is an insult to Telangana,” Dileep said.

He appealed to the BRS party leadership to boycott Andhra Jyothy newspaper and TV channel for what he alleged was spewing venom against Telangana’s leadership.