Hyderabad: Former minister Harish Rao strongly criticised the Congress government for allegedly targeting journalists during the festival period. He described the reported midnight arrests as shameful and vindictive, sparking a debate in Congress over journalist arrests.
Responding to social media reports, Harish Rao said police arrested three reporters from a leading Telugu news channel. According to the claims, the arrests followed a news report involving a woman IAS officer and a minister.
Expressing anger over the timing, he questioned why the government chose festival hours for such action. He also raised doubts about the intent behind midnight arrests.
Taking to X, the BRS leader asked whether journalists linked to the Telangana movement were being made scapegoats. He further questioned if they were criminals or terrorists to justify arrests at midnight.
Harish Rao alleges attack on democracy and media freedom
According to Harish Rao, the Congress government launched a direct attack on the self-respect of Telangana journalists. He said the arrests reflected a broader assault on democracy under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Questioning the use of arrests and SIT probes, he referred to actions against mainstream and digital media. He asked whom the government was trying to protect and whom it intended to silence.
Calling the approach dangerous, Harish Rao said using state power to suppress journalists for political gain was unacceptable. He described such actions as immoral and harmful to democracy.
Finally, Harish Rao demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalists. He also questioned the Congress government’s claim of restoring democratic values.
పాలన చేతగాని సర్కారు.. పండగ పూట జర్నలిస్టులపై కక్ష్య సాధింపు చర్యలకు దిగటం సిగ్గుచేటు.
మీ రాజకీయ వికృత క్రీడల్లో తెలంగాణ ఉద్యమకారులైన జర్నలిస్టులను బలి చేస్తారా?
ఇళ్లల్లో చొరబడి అర్ధరాత్రి వేళ అరెస్టులు చేయడానికి వాళ్లేమైన తీవ్రవాదులా?
జర్నలిస్టుల వరుస అరెస్టులను తీవ్రంగా…
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) January 14, 2026