Following the “high-handed, illegal detention and harassment” of two Tamil Nadu journalists — D. Anandhakumar and M. Sriram — who accompanied two accredited French journalists, by the Kanniyakumari police a few days ago, representatives of the Alliance for Media Freedom condemned the attempts to peddle a false narrative on an issue involving media freedom.
N. Ram, Chairman, THG Publishing Private Limited, speaking on behalf of the Alliance at the Press Club here on Monday, cautioned the media about swallowing this kind of propaganda.
Planted stories
“Of course, we will be reporting it. But, we have to report it critically and also rebut what is totally false,” he added. While he said that police have not alleged ‘spying’ in the FIR, the police nevertheless have planted stories in the media.
Speaking about the actions of the two Tamil Nadu-based journalists, he said, “M. Sriram and D. Anandhakumar, both Tamil journalists, visited Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari with two accredited French journalists. The two journalists are accredited members of CCiJP ( Commission de la Carte d'Identite des Journalistes Professionnels ). They are professional journalists representing Freedom Voices Network Team.”
While underlining that the two journalists should cooperate with the investigation strictly in accordance with the law, he said, “We are not saying journalists are exempt from the law. Journalists are subject to the law as long as law is justly implemented. That is the position of Alliance for Media Freedom.”
He was joined at the press conference by senior journalist Sashi Kumar and convenor of Alliance for Media Freedom Peer Mohammed.
Playing a video clip in which Pon Radhakrishnan, a Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Shipping, is seen telling reporters that “two French spies were brought into Kanyakumari through the sea”, Mr. Ram criticised him for propagating ‘fake news’.
‘Fake news’
“I am going to make a request to Prime Minister Modi that he should be promoted to the Cabinet status and a fresh ministry of fake news, disinformation and communal propaganda must be created and he must be put in charge. What Pon Radhakrishnan has said is complete fake news, falsehood and communal propaganda,” he added. He accused the Central Minister of exploiting the incident to raise the pitch to create alarm among people and a communal climate.
“Tamil Nadu is one of the few States where communalism is under check. For a Central minister to do it…is outrageous. We protest against the attack on media here…where he is alleging anti-national elements have come by sea…which is a total lie. They flew in and they drove. They are French journalists,” said Mr. Ram.
He added, “They (French journalists) came to investigate illegal beach sand mining and the related threats to the safety of journalists. What they did — going into this restricted facility and going away from the country — they can answer. They came on WhatsApp and spoke to the police and police have recorded it. They, of course, went back to France but they are not absconding. They are quite willing to talk to the police.”
Mr. Sashi Kumar, chairman, Asian College of Journalism, drawing a parallel with the ISRO spy scam, said, “What we are seeing is another big body blow — or an attempt — to freedom of press in India, to create a climate of chilling effect,” he said.
