Thiruvananthapuram: A journalists' union in Kerala on Thursday criticised SNDP leader Vellappally Natesan after he called a Muslim TV reporter 'extremist', days after an altercation at an event at Sivagiri, PTI reported.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) issued the statement after SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan made the remarks at a press conference in Alappuzha on Friday.
The controversy began on Wednesday when a journalist questioned Natesan about his comments on the Malappuram district. Television footage showed Natesan reacting angrily and pushing aside the journalist's microphone, asking him to move away.
At a press conference held on Friday at his residence in Alappuzha, Natesan said the journalist was an extremist and a spokesperson for Muslims.
The SNDP leader claimed that the reporter was an MSF leader and said he had prior information about him.
Natesan also defended his behaviour at Sivagiri, claiming that the journalist spoke to him in a disrespectful manner.
Reacting to these remarks, KUWJ said labelling a journalist as an extremist and attempting to silence questions was "unacceptable" in a democratic society.
The union said journalists raise questions on behalf of the public and that those in responsible positions must show restraint while dealing with the media.
"The assumption that the media should listen silently and leave without asking questions is against democratic values," KUWJ said in its statement, signed by State President K P Reji and General Secretary Suresh Edappal.
The union warned that repeated conduct of this nature could harm Kerala's social atmosphere and press freedom.
It urged leaders close to Natesan and the SNDP Yogam leadership to intervene and prevent similar incidents in the future.