The minister said that if any attempt was made to attack the channel or its journalists, workers of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the BJP’s youth wing, would make BRS activists “see stars.”
Published Jul 07, 2025 | 8:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 07, 2025 | 8:00 PM
The row has reignited debate over press freedom and political intimidation in Telangana.
Synopsis: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Monday threatened retaliatory attacks by the BJP’s youth wing against BRS activists if the latter targeted Telugu media outlet ABN Andhra Jyothy, sparking a fresh political row in Telangana. His comments came in response to an unsigned letter allegedly from BRS workers, demanding that ABN editor Vemuri Radhakrishna be “kicked out” for criticising the BRS leadership.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Monday, 7 July, threatened Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) activists, warning them not to target Telugu media outlet ABN Andhra Jyothy.
He said that if any attempt was made to attack the channel or its journalists, workers of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP’s youth wing, would make BRS activists “see stars.”
The minister’s comments followed an unsigned letter, allegedly written by BRS workers and addressed to party working president KT Rama Rao, calling for action against ABN editor Vemuri Radhakrishna.
The letter accused the senior journalist – referring to him in derogatory terms as someone living off Telangana – of spreading hatred against the state and demanded that he be “kicked out.”
The letter appeared to be a reaction to Radhakrishna’s Sunday column Kotha Paluku, in which he questioned whether Telangana had become the private fiefdom of KCR and KTR.
He criticised the BRS for portraying their loss in the recent Assembly elections as a setback for Telangana itself and reminded readers that ABN and Andhra Jyothy had supported the statehood movement well before the formation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now BRS).
Radhakrishna also cited the B N Srikrishna Committee report, which acknowledged the media house’s contribution to sustaining the Telangana movement.
The row has reignited debate over press freedom and political intimidation in Telangana, as tensions continue to run high in the post-election political climate.
“Can someone remind this guy Bandi Sanjay that he is the Minister of State for Home Affairs of India and is supposed to uphold the law, not break it? Such a sad state of affairs,” BRS leader Konatham Dileep wrote in a post on X.
Minister Sanjay Kumar accused the BRS, which had once praised Andhra Jyothy for supporting the Telangana statehood movement, of now turning against the same outlet because it was exposing the party’s leaders.
“If BRS workers dare to attack Andhra Jyothy and ABN offices, they should be prepared for retaliation at Telangana Bhavan,” he warned.
He claimed that BJP state president N Ramachander Rao had already directed BJYM workers not to spare anyone if ABN was attacked.
“Though I am the Union Minister of State for Home and ideally shouldn’t say this, but I am stating it clearly – if there is an attempt to attack ABN like how they attacked Maha News, our activists will make you see the stars,” Sanjay said.
He also said that while the BRS may have “10 activists here and 20 there,” the BJP youth wing was a far more organised and powerful force.
“BJYM cadres have fought Naxals and terrorists. They won’t hesitate to take on BRS workers,” he added.
The minister further lashed out at BRS leaders for allegedly referring to BJP figures in derogatory terms such as vadu and veedu. He warned that if such language continued, BJYM activists would block BRS leaders’ vehicles across Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana.
He also questioned the source of wealth amassed by the KCR family, claiming they became rich only after coming to power.
“They used to roam in slippers and crumpled clothes. Today, they have assets worth thousands of crores, while the state is buried under massive debt,” he alleged.
Sanjay Kumar further accused the ruling Congress in Telangana of going soft on BRS leaders. He said the state government had arrested those involved in the attack on Maha News but later allowed them to secure bail.
“This leniency has emboldened BRS cadres to now threaten similar attacks on ABN Andhra Jyothy,” he claimed.
He alleged that the Congress has always maintained a covert understanding with the BRS.
“One pretends to slap, the other pretends to cry. But no one actually gets hurt,” the minister remarked sarcastically.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed BJP Telangana president N Ramachander Rao also condemned the threats against ABN Andhra Jyothy. He warned that the BJP would not remain silent if BRS activists attempted to target the media house.
“If they try to do whatever they like, we will storm the T News office,” he said, urging the state government to provide security to ABN Andhra Jyothy offices.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
