KCR hits out, says those insulting Telangana will be buried ten feet in earth

Angered by employees of two news channels who were protesting being blacked out in the state, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has threatened to bury those who insult Telangana “10 feet under the earth”.

“Those who insult Telangana, its existence and prestige, will be buried 10 feet under the earth,” Rao said at a function in Nakkalagutta in Warangal district.

“If you demean our culture, you have no place here. I am saying this as Chief Minister,” Rao was quoted as saying in The Hindu .

“You insult public representatives branding them as drunken monkeys, you describe them as lumpens and you call every name you like. What sort of freedom is it and what sort of culture is it?” Rao reportedly said.

The chief minister’s statement came after employees of two news channels protested at the event he was attending to commemorate the birth centenary of Kaloji Narayana Rao, a poet and literary critic.

The media persons were from the TV channels ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV 9 were protesting the decision by the a body of cable TV providers in the state blocking the transmission of their channels since 16 June.

The association of the service providers had stopped the service alleging the channels aired programmes “denigrating the Telangana dialect, sentiment and feelings” of the people of the state.

The Chief Minister, however, also indicated which side he was backing.

“I salute multiple system operators who stopped transmission of the two television channels. If they (TV channels) do not mend their attitude, I will teach them a lesson,” the Chief Minister said.

The police detained about 25 journalists and took them to Subedari police station, from where they were released.

The Telangana Assembly had earlier passed a resolution earlier, authorising the Speaker to initiate any action as he deemed fit against TV9 for airing an alleged “objectionable programmes” and “belittling comments” about MLAs.

The Telangana Chief Minister is known for his colourful statements and in the past has said he is willing to be ‘Hitler’s grandfather’.

“One says KCR is Hitler, another says KCR is dictator; KCR is definitely Hitler for thieves. I want to be Hitler for the corrupt. I don’t feel shy. KCR is Hitler to stop injustice. I can even be Hitler’s grandfather,” Rao had said on 17 August.

with PTI inputs