Let there be no illusion that intimidation can silence us
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Media One.
A few days ago, we wrote against the UP police and government's hunt for fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, as in the RK Laxman cartoon where the police arrest a journalist for spreading facts instead of rumours. Now, Kerala police are knocking on our door for doing pro-people journalism and for exposing the truth that the personal data of our country's youth is being sold in the cyber underworld. If the 'crime' committed by Muhammad Zubair was to draw attention to a hate speech, then the crime committed by ‘Madhyamam’ in the eyes of the government was to reveal the shocking truth that the information submitted by more than half a crore candidates in the state with hope, and even more, trust to the Kerala Public Service Commission was being leaked. The journalist, who had written about a very serious crime and drawn the attention of the government and society, was questioned by the police for two hours as if he were a criminal and issued a strange order to produce his phone within two days. The information that the user IDs and passwords of 65 lakh candidates registered with the PSC were leaked and put up for sale was published by ‘Madhyayam’ on July 22 under the byline of Aniru Ashokan, a staff writer in the Thiruvananthapuram bureau. We were well aware of the importance of the news and the consequences if it came out, so we brought it to the public only after repeatedly ensuring its accuracy.
Instead of solving the problem, the PSC was in a hurry to create doubt in our credibility by making the 100 per cent truthful news seem fake. Thus, we were forced to release the evidence along with official documents. This is the practice followed by any media organization that is responsible to the people. Instead of trying to trace and punish those responsible for the crime, the PSC was interested in finding out how our correspondent got the news and in taking revenge. The Crime Branch, which initiated an investigation following the PSC's complaint, is putting pressure on 'Madhyamam' to reveal the source of the news. In addition to summoning and questioning the reporter, a notice has been issued to the editor-in-chief with the same demand. Forcing to reveal the source of the news is a gross violation of international media etiquette and an encroachment on the people's right to know. In utmost seriousness, let it be made clear that there is no way to give in to threats.
A declared state of emergency was imposed in this country half a century ago, which meant that no news that was not in favour of the government should be published. Anti-media movements that can be described as an undeclared state of emergency are also often carried out in the country. It was the communal fascist regime in Uttar Pradesh that charged a Keralite journalist who went to report a rape and murder under the UAPA in addition to arresting journalists who reported a question paper leak. It was in Madhya Pradesh that all the reporters and investigators of the Vyapam scam were killed under mysterious circumstances. Another state where RTI activists and journalists are constantly being hunted is Gujarat, the home state of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.
However, it is alarming that such moves that create a hindrance to fearless journalism are being implemented using the police in a state like Kerala, which is ruled by a Left-wing government. We have previously exposed corruption and sabotage in the PSC, raised questions about the irregularities in the police, and criticized the central and state governments. In doing so, we are fulfilling our responsibility to the people, using the freedom of the press and expression guaranteed by the Constitution. We are not prepared to surrender or retreat before any ruler or government. We said the same thing when the central government tried to shut down the ‘Media One’ channel run by ‘Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited' on false grounds. No police action or notice will be enough to silence us. If anyone wants to prevent our criticism, they just need to desist from their anti-people and unjust moves and act according to their oath. ‘Madhyayam’ has decided to wage a legal battle against the police actions aimed at silencing by intimidation and to move forward on the path shown by our guides who taught us not to give up the truth even in the face of an oppressive ruler. We hope that the readers and the cultural and media community, who have been with us all this time, loving, advising and reprimanding us, will join us in this mission to uphold the dignity of journalism.