BRS activists attack Mahaa News office in Hyderabad for holding a debate critical of K T Rama Rao

Hyderabad: The office of Telugu news channel Mahaa News was attacked by BRS activists on Saturday afternoon for conducting a debate against party working president K T Rama Rao, police claimed.

About 20 workers of BRS damaged cars, computer systems and others on the office premises and a staffer of the channel suffered minor injuries in the incident, they said.

A case on charges of trespass, damage to property and others was registered, they said.

BRS MLC Sravan Dasoju said the law would take its course in the matter.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy condemned the attack on the channel office. He said such attacks are not justified in a democracy.

Similarly, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his deputy Pawan Kalyan and several other leaders condemned the attack.

Observing that such attacks on media offices have no place in a democracy, Naidu said seeking to control the media through attacks and threats is not justified.

Kalyan said there is a way to express objections, if any, to the news and stories published or broadcast in the media.

The Andhra Deputy CM urged the Telangana government to take action as per law on those responsible for the attack.

Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who visited the channel's office, said the state government strongly condemns the "heinous attack on the Mahaa News media office".

Such inhumane and undemocratic acts strike at the core of our democratic values and media freedom, he said.

Mob violence has no place in civil society and goes against the peaceful legacy of Hyderabad and the state government would not allow anyone to tarnish the image of Telangana with such disgraceful actions, he said.

"I have personally reviewed the incident. Police are gathering all relevant evidence, and I assure the public that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible. The government will not remain a silent spectator," he said in a post on 'X'.

Observing that media houses in a democracy have every right to report and express views freely and fairly, Vikramarka said disagreements, if any, must be addressed through lawful and peaceful means, not violence.

"Our government is fully committed to upholding law and order, public safety, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. Justice will be ensured," he said.

Responding to the allegation that BRS workers attacked the news channel office, Sravan Dasoju asked is it freedom of expression to make a slanderous and false attack (on BRS leader K T Rama Rao).

"No attack, either physical or psychological, is allowed by Indian criminal law. Therefore, those boys who had become emotional after seeing a slanderous, false, malicious attack by Mahaa TV on KTR would have gone there. Let the law take its own course of action," he told PTI.

"But, who should take legal action against Mahaa TV now?," he asked.

The BRS leaders also submitted a complaint to the Cyber Crime police of Hyderabad against the "highly defamatory and malicious broadcast" by Mahaa News Channel "targeting character assassination" of party president K Chandrasekhar Rao, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao and their family members.