Hyderabad: The recent arrest of Telugu Scribe journalist Gowtham Pothagoni, seven months after posting a video featuring a farmer praising former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), has reignited concerns about press freedom in Telangana. Gowtham, who faces four FIRs for allegedly promoting public disharmony, was granted bail by the Nampally court on Tuesday (October 15).
The video featured a farmer, Mallaya, who praised KCR and the BRS policies, particularly the Rythu Bandhu scheme, while expressing financial difficulties under the current administration.
This case reflects a disturbing trend that spans both KCR’s Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government and the current Congress administration led by Revanth Reddy. Successive governments have used police power, legal action, and institutional control to stifle dissent.
Journalists like Raghu from Tolivelugu and Revathi, former CEO of Mojo TV, have faced similar harassment in the past. Raghu’s arrest in Hyderabad drew condemnation from Congress and BJP, while Revathi was detained by police in 2019 under harassment allegations. These cases highlight a systemic attack on journalists challenging the government narrative.
A history of suppression of media under BRS
During KCR’s administration, independent media faced increasing suppression. In one high-profile case, YouTube journalist Teenmar Mallanna was arrested on extortion charges in 2021 after airing content critical of KCR’s policies. Many digital content creators were also detained, often under defamation and public disorder charges. Over 40 YouTube journalists were arrested in early 2022, as the state tightened control over both traditional and digital media.
In another case, Dasari Srinivas, who runs the YouTube channel Kaloji TV, was booked under multiple sections of the IPC for critical posts about KCR and his daughter, K. Kavitha. As digital media grew, Telangana police increasingly cracked down on YouTube journalists, often citing the spread of defamatory content as justification. Critics argue these arrests were politically motivated. Journalists had their devices seized and erased, setting a dangerous precedent for curbing free speech.
The state’s accreditation system plays a central role in controlling the narrative. Telangana accredited 18,000 journalists, the highest in India, offering perks like access to government facilities, healthcare, travel concessions, and land allotments. This system rewarded government-aligned journalists, fostering a culture of self-censorship, while non-accredited journalists faced harassment and legal threats.
Revanth Reddy’s Congress government: Continuation of repression
Despite the change in leadership, repressive tactics have continued under Revanth Reddy’s Congress government. Like his predecessor, Revanth has targeted journalists critical of the state while rewarding those aligned with the government. In September 2024, Revanth handed over 38 acres of land to the Jawaharlal Nehru Journalists Housing Society, reinforcing the divide between accredited and non-accredited journalists.
Revanth has publicly called on journalists to uphold the dignity of their profession, but his administration continues to use police action against digital journalists and YouTube influencers, many of whom face defamation charges or accusations of inciting public discord. This continuity suggests the repression of press freedom transcends party lines in Telangana.
Digital Media: The Battleground for Free Speech
Digital media has emerged as a critical space for dissent as traditional media aligns with state narratives. YouTube and independent websites have provided platforms for investigative journalism, while the state’s efforts to suppress them have intensified.
In January 2022, Telangana police launched a crackdown on YouTube journalists critical of the government. These independent journalists, outside the accreditation system, faced legal repercussions, drawing attention to the state’s broader strategy of controlling the digital narrative while maintaining traditional media compliance.
The dangers ahead
The ongoing targeting of journalists in Telangana threatens press freedom and democratic discourse. By silencing dissent, the state shields its policies from public scrutiny. The selective accreditation system creates a two-tiered media, where government-aligned journalists enjoy privileges while independent reporters face threats. This weakens the media’s role as a watchdog and undermines the public’s access to diverse viewpoints.
This local repression mirrors a national trend to control independent media, especially in the digital space. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) recently withdrew the 2024 Broadcast Bill after facing criticism for attempting to regulate independent creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and X.
The bill sought to classify these creators – especially those covering news and current affairs – as “digital news broadcasters,” requiring them to register with the government and set up content evaluation committees (CEC) to approve their programs, fueling fears of censorship and overreach.
The convergence of local and national efforts to suppress independent journalism highlights a structural problem that crosses party lines. Without strong protections for journalists and a true commitment to free speech, both Telangana and India risk turning the media into a tool for the powerful rather than a check on them. As the situation in Telangana unfolds, the need for transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform becomes more urgent.
