LDF MLA threatens media
Freedom of press is under threat in Kerala. Police raided offices of ‘Marunadan Malayali’, a YouTube media house. And, laptops, cameras and computers and even monitors were seized. They raided the houses of employees, including women of the Marunadan Malayali. The gadgets also had been confiscated from them. They had to beg for their mobile phones. It is in connection with a case against Shajan Skaria, the editor-in-chief of the YouTube channel.
Shajan Skaria has been a serious critic of CPM and the party-led LDF government. Marunadan Malayali scaled the heights of popularity and viewership within a short span of time, thanks to its relentless efforts to release videos on contentious issues which the others in the fraternity shied away from doing. His channel has been fighting against the Islamic fundamentalist jihadis.
He has been exposing the anti-national activities of those groups. The strong and adamant stand of Marunadan obviously invited the CPM’s wrath. Naturally they appeared like awaiting a proper time to teach Shajan Skaria a lesson. Then a case was registered against him under SC/ST Act. It was for the alleged video he did against LDF’s P.V. Sreenijan MLA. And, the case was registered on the basis of a complaint by the MLA.
The Kerala High Court on Friday (June 30) rejected Shajan’s application for anticipatory bail. Immediately, police started to look for Shajan for arresting him. And, police started raids. 29 computers, cameras, memory cards, etc. were confiscated from its offices at Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. Last week, four hard disks were seized. The police had even raided the homes of Shajan’s relatives to bring him out and arrest. These actions should be viewed as a tool to frighten the journalists and make them kneel and crawl. The police actions have invited widespread criticisms.
Now, Shajan moves Supreme Court for anticipatory bail.
It is to be remembered, the same LDF and its supremo and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had supported Siddiq Kappan when he was arrested under UAPA. He was accused of sedition and trying to promote enmity between different religions. The same LDF was shouting on top of their voice in favour of BBC when it telecast the ‘India: The Modi Question’. The houses of SFI leaders K. Vidya, Nikhil Thomas and Visakh were not raided when they were underground after they were accused of forgeries.
Now, an LDF MLA has come out to threaten the media houses.
Find out some other jobs.
POSCO case also will have to be faced.
He has taken the ‘cases’ into his court.
Not only YouTube channels, but also the main stream media will not be spared.
If you call this ‘goondaism’, you may call it.
If think that I am goon, yes am.
Here is the reaction of KUWJ (Kerala Union of Working Journalists), the most powerful and better to say, the only organisation of working journalists in the state –
R Kiran Babu, general secretary of KUWJ, said “The Union’s position is that if there is a case against Marunadan Malayali and its owner Shajan Skaria, it should be investigated and if he is guilty, he should be punished but implicating workers of the organization is deplorable and undermines the dignity of Kerala Police”.
Interestingly, no doubt, this is a ‘soft comment’.
