Condemning the ‘tiffin box’ bomb attack on the office of ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai’ news channel in Chennai, members of Nellai Press Club staged a demonstration in front of Tirunelveli railway junction on Friday.
Led by Muthukrishnan, president of Nellai Press Club, the protestors raised slogans against the attack and urged the State government to take immediate action to ensure safety of journalists and security to media offices. They said the attack on ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai’ by the miscreants was an attack on the freedom of expression.
Former president of the club A. Gopalsamy said recent attacks on the writers, journalists and media offices across the country, especially in Tamil Nadu, had made it clear that freedom of expression was under serious threat.
“When writer Perumal Murugan was forced to leave his birthplace for his novel ‘Maathorubaagan’, the fundamentalists, who enjoyed the backing of officials, made it clear that they would ‘Talibanise’ Tamil Nadu, where they want to read and hear only messages or news comfortable to them. This is not good for any progressive society,” Mr. Gopalsamy said.
Tuticorin
Similarly, members of Thoothukudi Press Club staged an agitation in front of the Collectorate here on Friday, seeking stern action by police against those who attacked ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai’ office in Chennai.
Spearheading the agitation, S. Annadurai, secretary of the club, said over the recent past a video journalist of the same television channel was manhandled by a group. Every media house had freedom to express its ideas, organise programmes and conduct debates to play an important role in transformation of society and nobody could succeed in their attempts to muzzle the press and end freedom of speech, Mr. Annadurai said.
The agitators raised slogans, seeking protection for media persons. They also submitted a petition to Collector M. Ravikumar, seeking protection for media persons from any such attacks.
S. Petchimuthu, treasurer of the club, and executive members took part.
