Tue Mar 18 13:07:41 UTC 2025: ## Telangana Chief Minister Threatens Journalists with Violence, Sparking Outrage

**Hyderabad, India –** Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy sparked widespread condemnation after threatening two journalists, Revathi Pogadadanda and Tanvi Yadav, with stripping and parading – a form of public shaming frequently used against women in India – if they continued to criticize him and his family.

Reddy’s comments, made during a March 15th assembly session, followed the journalists’ publication of a YouTube video allegedly containing abusive remarks about the Chief Minister and his family. He subsequently demanded that journalist unions provide a list of accredited journalists, implying those not on the list would face harsher treatment. This has been interpreted as an attempt to stifle dissent and control the narrative.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the BJP, who accused Reddy of acting like the “Taliban” and compared his actions to the Emergency of 1975. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla highlighted the irony, given the Congress party’s public stance on press freedom.

The two journalists were arrested on March 12th and charged with criminal conspiracy, promoting hatred, and publishing obscene material. They were granted bail on March 17th but still face serious charges. Critics argue that the arrests and the Chief Minister’s threats represent an unacceptable attempt to suppress free speech and utilize government machinery to target political opponents.

The author notes the disturbing prevalence of public shaming and violence against women in India, highlighting the severity of Reddy’s threat given this context. They call for a judicial review and emphasize the importance of upholding the constitutional right to free speech. While acknowledging that abuses and trolling exist on social media, the author argues that silencing dissent through intimidation is antithetical to a democratic society. The article concludes by urging the Congress leadership to address this incident and ensure its actions align with its stated commitment to press freedom.

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