Telangana Assembly: CM Revanth Reddy vows to pass legislation to regulate media content

Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy has been extremely impatient in the Assembly over the issue of arbitrary posts about him on social media in the name of 'Bhu Bharathi' over the past few days.

“For introducing Bhubharathi and attempting to distribute the poor people's lands to them. Are you growing resentful of me,” the chief minister questioned a section of people who are making arbitrary posts about him on social media.

On Saturday, the chief minister made these remarks on the Assembly floor in response to the Motion of Thanks for the Governor's Address during the State Legislature's joint session.

Legislation in Assembly to punish digital media journalists

Revanth Reddy promised to introduce legislation in the Assembly to punish digital media journalists, particularly those owning YouTube channels, who publish offensive information about elected representatives. The Chief Minister's tirade was a reaction to mounting criticism of the Congress government over the recent detention of two female journalists who had posted "defamatory content" about him.

“Paid artists are being brought in and placed in the party office. If they record it and put it on social media, the police will file a case. Look at the language they use on social media. I would like to ask, who is a real journalist? Will someone become a journalist if they take a YouTube video and talk about it in a self-serving manner,” he said.

"We're in politics and can be criticized, but why single out our family members?" he said. As the practice of disseminating disparaging content flourished on social media under the pretense of journalism, he vowed that he would not keep quiet. After intimidating reporters, the chief minister suggested negotiating with unions and passing legislation to control media content.

Create a list of recognised journalists

Revanth Reddy even instructed Information and Public Relations Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu to create a list of "recognized journalists" who would be exempt, while those who were not on the list would face separate consequences.

"Do not think I'm mute because I'm the Chief Minister. I will strip you and thrash you. Thousands of people will take to the streets to beat you up if I summon them. But I'm tolerant because of my position. Whatever I do, I will do within the scope of the law," he stated.