A Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA in Andhra Pradesh has sparked a row by threatening journalists publishing purported ‘false news’ against him and his family members.
On January 29, Gummanur Jayaram, the MLA from Guntakal constituency, threatened journalists that if they publish ‘false news’ against him or his brother, he would make them sleep on railway tracks.
The TDP MLA said some journalists were publishing ‘false news’ that he was involved in land encroachments. He also remarked that he does not give any importance to the media.
Jayaram, a former minister, threatened journalists of serious consequences. His video threatening media persons went viral on social media.
Addressing the media at the Indiramma Colony in Guntakal, he invited questions and said, “I’m asking in a friendly manner, do you have any questions? After I leave, if you write random news. If you cannot prove such news, I am even ready to make you sleep on train tracks.”
“If I have done anything wrong, the media can openly criticise me. But do not falsely accuse me and my brother of wrongdoings. Ask me in a straightforward manner if I’ve done something wrong, if that’s true, I’ll correct myself. If I haven’t done anything wrong, I will skin them. Think before writing news about me,” he went on to say.
The MLA of the ruling party also told journalists that if they have any questions they should ask him in person. He warned them that he would not tolerate anything written against him. Jayaram issued the warning to journalists after a media house published stories against him and family members.
Journalists’ associations have condemned the MLA’s open threat and have demanded him to withdraw his statement.
Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) said in a statement that it is condemnable that a MLA has threatened journalists. The union said if the MLA believes that a certain media report is not correct, he may take legal action but it is not proper on his part to threaten journalists.
The TDP leadership has reportedly taken a serious view of Jayaram’s threat to journalists.
With IANS inputs