Pinarayi justifies action against Asianet; not linked to media freedom
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Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the police inspection at the Asianet office cannot be linked with freedom of media. Cases will be charged against a person who has committed a criminal offence regardless of his occupation. The Chief Minister said that the law will not approve of that. He added that there s no distinction in the constitution between media workers and non-media workers," he added.
Seemingly justifying the SFI attack on the Asianet News Kochi office, the chief minister said, "Freedom of the press is not the freedom to tell lies, but the freedom of the reader to know the truth. It will be protected by the government. It is natural to protest against the draining of morality from the freedom of the press."
Making and broadcasting fake videos is not part of media activity. It is bad journalism to include a minor girl in a video and demand protection for media activity. Majority of the journalists in Kerala want such corruption to not occur in the media.
Responding to an urgent motion by Congress MLA PC Vishnunath in the state assembly, Pinarayi recalled the censorship during the Emergency to hold the Congress responsible for such acts. He cited the arrest of leading journalists like Kuldeep Nayyar which cannot be forgotten. "We cannot forget that on the day emergency was declared; the media was cut off to prevent the news from getting out. Seven foreign reporters were expelled from the country. Two hundred fifty journalists were jailed. Fifty-four people were denied accreditation. This is the Congress method. Even anti-terror methods were used against journalists"
However, in the process he sounded like hitting back at the Congress members, rather than clarifying the action against the media outlet when he said, " That's your way, Congress."
The Chief Minister said there are certain things that can be done as part of journalism. Police action in Asianet should not be compared with the action of the Centre against the BBC. Making a fake video is not an outcry or exposure of any government or ruler. So it will not cut much ice if it is portrayed as retaliation.
He said that the inspectdion of Asianet Kozhikode office was conducted only as part of rule of law. The Chief Minister stated that the complaint of PV Anwar is under investigation by Vellayil police.
