The Andhra Pradesh unit of the BJP had officially announced ban of ABN Andhra Jyothi TV and daily paper.
The ban would be in force till the ABN apologises for the slipper attack on BJP leader Vishnuvardhan Reddy during a live debate the other day.
Though the ABN had announced that it would not invite K Srinivasa Rao, who attacked Vishnuvardhan Reddy in the live debate, for further debates.
However, ignoring its promise, the ABN had invited Srinivasa Rao alone for the live debate on Wednesday, leading to the BJP taking the decision.
The BJP said that it would not invite and allow the ABN TV and Andhra Jyothi daily for all its programmes and press conferences.
The BJP further said its leaders would not participate in the live debates or other talks with the Andhra Jyothi media group any more.
The BJP said that the ABN, in the guise of media, was serving the political interests of the TDP and had become its mouth piece and pamphlet in complete negation of media standards and moral values.
“Instead of registering a case against the attacker for his criminal conduct, ABN TV again invited the attacker to the discussion today to protect the interests of the Telugu Desam party and give it a clean chit for the ugly episode,” the BJP said.
“From now onwards, BJP representatives will not attend any debates on ABN TV and the party will not invite ABN group to the party's press conferences,” the BJP added.
The boycott will have immediate effect and will continue until the Andhra Jyothy management unconditionally apologizes to BJP Andhra Pradesh.
BJP is the second party in the state, after the ruling YSR Congress, to boycott and ban the ABN and its group media for all the political activities.
The attack on Vishnuvardhan Reddy and the subsequent reaction and action of the ABN further consolidated its loyalties to the TDP.
