Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu defended Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao's comments on Monday, which compared women to parked cars.
Addressing a media persons after the National Women's Parliament that had taken place in the state, Naidu was highlighting the success of the event.
Around half way into the meet, Naidu spoke about reports that were critical of the event, and things surrounding it.
"One or two media outlets said some things. I thought to myself, how is it possible?" Naidu asked, naming the Deccan Chronicle publicly.
"Without studying, you are putting what you want to put, and writing whatever negative things you want to write. I saw some papers. They were only writing negative news. I don't know what they get from that," he says.
He goes on to add, "If you can't help a good program, its okay. If you can't write positively, its okay. But, in some sleepy mood, they are using the delegates photo and writing negative news. I am not able to understand it."
"It has been embedded in their heart, to write negative news...I don't know where this is going. I think they're derogatory. They think this is their right," he concludes.
Ahead of the women's Parliament, Andhra Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao triggered controversy, after he said:
"Let’s say you buy a vehicle. When it is parked in the garage at home, accidents can be avoided, right? When it is taken to a bazaar or to the road, accidents are likely to happen...Similarly, in older times, when women were housewives, they were safe from all kind of atrocities, except discrimination. Today, they are studying, working, and also are doing business. They are exposed to the society. When they are exposed to the society they are more prone to eve-teasing, harassment, atrocities, rape and kidnap. Is it not? If they do not leave home, it doesn't happen.
However, the speaker did go on to emphasize that women had to study and work, and it was the society's responsibility to give them confidence.
After the media meet, Naidu was asked about the Speaker's comment,
According to a report in The New Indian Express, Naidu attacked the media for 'quoting him out of context', while adding that the Speaker did not have gender prejudice.
The TNIE report adds that a 'visibly angry' Chief Minister said that the media was “making an issue out of a non-issue” and added the "media thinks no one can touch them and they could get away with whatever they write."
“Going beyond a limit is wrong not only for the political class but also for the media,” he was quoted as saying.