TDP MLA Threatens Journalists Over 'False News'

Amaravati- Gummanur Jayaram, a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA from Guntakal constituency, ignited controversy on Wednesday by issuing a veiled threat to journalists publishing "false news" against him and his family.

In a video that went viral on social media, Jayaram, a former minister, warned journalists to "think well" before publishing anything about him or his brother. He stated that if he found their reporting to be inaccurate, he would "make them sleep on train tracks." He further cautioned journalists that he would not tolerate anything written against him and advised them to approach him directly with any questions.

Jayaram's outburst came after a media house published stories alleging his involvement in land encroachments. He claimed these reports were "false news" and asserted that he holds the media in low regard.

The TDP leadership swiftly distanced itself from Jayaram's actions. TDP state president P. Srinivasa Rao reprimanded the MLA over the phone, emphasizing that threatening journalists is unacceptable within the party's culture. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is also reported to have expressed displeasure over the incident.

Journalists' associations have condemned the MLA's open threat and have demanded him to withdraw his statement. The Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) condemned Jayaram's threat and demanded a retraction. The union stated that while the MLA has the right to seek legal recourse if he believes a report is inaccurate, issuing threats is out of line.