KTR, Harish Rao condemn cases against journalist for reporting on urea shortage in Khammam
BRS leaders KT Rama Rao and Harish Rao slammed the Congress government for filing cases against journalist Sambasiva Rao, who reported on Telangana’s urea shortage, alleging the ruling party was misusing police to silence the media and suppress farmers’ voices
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao and senior MLA T Harish Rao came down heavily on the Congress government for filing cases against T-News journalist Sambasiva Rao from Khammam district, who reported on farmers’ struggles due to urea shortage. They demanded that the State government and the DGP withdraw the cases immediately, accusing Congress of silencing voices that speak for farmers.
Cases have been filed against Sambasiva Rao under Section 151, 196, 353(2) of BNS for assaulting and wrongfully restraining government officials, promoting enmity or disharmony between different groups and also publishing or circulating false information with an intent to promote enmity and hatred, at Konijerla police station.
Reacting strongly to these cases, Rama Rao accused the government of unleashing “Indiramma’s police state’ by targeting the media for reporting on challenges faced by farmers due to urea shortage, instead of addressing farmers’ grievances. “This is the time to solve farmers’ problems, not to harass journalists. Threatening media only exposes the government’s tyranny,” he charged.
Harish Rao called out the police for committing a crime by framing illegal cases against a reporter who exposed the shortage. “For two months, farmers have been suffering for urea, while the government turned a blind eye. Now, by registering cases against journalists who highlighted its negligence, the government is proving its authoritarian mindset,” he said.
Both the leaders warned that suppressing media freedom was undemocratic and would only deepen public resentment. Instead of ensuring law and order, they said the police were being used as a weapon of political intimidation.
