Vijayawada: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) General Secretary Lella Appireddy has lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting against ABN news channel and Andhra Jyothi news paper for allegedly broadcasting defamatory and derogatory content.

In a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, on Monday, he sought immediate intervention and appropriate action against ABN Andhra Jyothi, its anchor, editor, and management for allegedly broadcasting defamatory, derogatory, misleading, and unethical content through its electronic and digital platforms.

It is submitted that the said broadcast is a clear instance of abuse of media freedom, wherein the channel has indulged in dissemination of content that is false, unverified, malicious, and intended to malign the reputation of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the YSRCP. The programme is not a fair journalistic exercise but a motivated and one-sided narrative presented with deliberate intent to create hatred, ridicule, and prejudice in the minds of viewers.

The MLC cited allegedly objectionable and defamatory language used by the anchor while describing members and supporters of the YSRCP. The YSRCP quoted the anchor as saying that party supporters would blindly believe anything said by Jagan Mohan Reddy and used language the party described as abusive and derogatory.

He submitted that the broadcast contains repeated usage of expressions portraying the leadership and members of the party as lacking intelligence and rationality, referring to them in terms such as persons having no intellect or wisdom, and describing political positions as insane or mad proposals. The anchor has also allegedly depicted the leadership as a group of mad persons, which, the letter stated, demonstrates the reckless, abusive, and defamatory nature of the telecast.