Kochi, Kerala. Government of Kerala, manned by CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), is pluralistic, as its leaders claim. But, now their “pluralism” has got a different dimension; the “pluralism” is wielded as a tool to shackle the media and media men. It is the methodology to silence the critics.
The police has registered a case against Anil Nambiar, “Janam” Malayalam news channel’s Programme & Current Affairs Head. It is on the basis of a complaint filed by a Congress leader. It is alleged that the case is in the wake of the Janam TV news on Kalamasserry bomb blast of October 29. It comes close on the heels of the case registered against the union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar in connection with his social media post against Pinarayi Vijayan’s regime in the light of the Kalamasserry blasts. Minister had blamed the LDF regime for the failure of the law & order situation in the state. He also alleged that LDF’s approach to the extremist forces is soft. He had come down heavily on the GoK for the virtual address of former Hamas chief in connection with the concave organised, in Malappuram, by Solidarity Youth Movement, the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been charged under IPC 153 (Intervention for instigating enmity in the society) and 153 (A) (meant for creating enmity between two communities). It is an unbailable offence.
Anil Nambiar and “Team Janam” have been charged for ‘hate reporting’.
Other victims are ‘Reporter’ Malayalam news channel in connection with the reporting of Kalamasserry blasts. Case has been charged against the channel’s Coordinating Editor Sujaya Parvati also. Interestingly, Reporter TV’s general policy appears to be pro-CPM, pro-LDF and pro-CM Pinarayi Vijayan. On the other hand, Sujaya Parvati appears to be a sympathiser of Sangh-inspired organisers. Despite working for ‘Reporter’ channel, her issue-based presentations have been drawing the attraction of the nationalists and the right-thinking people. In fact, she had to leave her former work place, another channel, allegedly due to differences of opinion regarding her pro-nationalist stands. After leaving the channel, she had addressed few programmes of Sangh-inspired organisations.
BJP spokesman Sandeep. G. Warrier faces legal actions too, again with respect to the speeches about Kalamasserry blasts.
Few months before, Shajan Sakaria, the owner and editor of “Marunadan Malayali”, a popular Malayalam online journal was jailed for several weeks together for several cases, including forgery of documents. But the people believe that he was booked for carrying several anti-government news.
In the past, cases had been registered for social media posts against the government and the chief minister.
On the other hand, if social media posts are against Hindu organisations, Hindu Gods and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people do not hear about the cases registered against the people behind them. That is why, BJP alleges double standard in GoK’s approach to the defamation cases.
