Hyderabad:
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late YSR Reddy's son Jaganmohan Reddy and the Congress seem set for a showdown once again.
A one-hour TV programme on the Congress was aired on Sakshi TV, a channel owned by Jaganmohan Reddy, that reportedly described Sonia Gandhi's leadership as a failure and was critical of her foreign origins.
The state's Chief Minister K Rosaiah said, "The way the story has been built up and broadcasted, I have got strong objection. I said it very clearly. There is no ambiguity about it."
Scores of Congress workers held a protest against the telecast outside the Sakshi channel's head office in Banjara Hills.
Among them state health minister, Danam Nagender, a YSR and Jagan loyalist, made it a point to demonstrate his loyalty to the High command and led a sit-in in front of YSR's statue.
"It is very unfortunate and it is a black day for every Congressman. It is unfortunate what has appeared in Sakshi Channel," he said.
Heavy police force was deployed outside Sakshi channel's office and the protesting Congress workers were taken into custody for defying prohibitory orders.
Sakshi TV has denied airing anything critical about Sonia Gandhi and says it only quoted old media reports.
Priyadarshni Ram, CEO, Sakshi TV said, "There was no personal drive or an opportunity to say that we were looking to make a comment like this. It was about the way the Congress party was moving and as the head of this party how is Sonia Gandhi dealing with this issue." (
Watch: Sakshi TV CEO defends show on Sonia)
The Congress leadership has asked the state chief to submit a report on the TV show. With the number of detractors Jaganmohan Reddy has within the party, it won't be surprising if his ratings hit an all-time low.