NBA protests to Kerala CM over FIR against TV journalist

By India News Stream staffer

July 23, 2018
New Delhi: the News Broadcasters Association on Monday lodged a strong protest with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the FIR against deputy news editor of Mathrubhumi News Television Venu Balakrishnan for airing a discussion on the channel on June 7 regarding an incident involving the torture of a young Muslim by the Police and the ruckus in the State Assembly following Police atrocities.
The FIR was filed following a complaint filed by local leaders of DYFI, the youth wing of the ruling CPI (M), under Section 153 A of IPC.
NBA president Rajat Sharma in a letter to the Chief Minister said that the opening sentences of the anchor’s comment was taken out of context and a case foisted against him.
”NBA considers the police action against the anchor, based on the FIR, unacceptable and an attack on the freedom of the press,” Mr Sharma said.
He urged the Chief Minister to ensure that journalists and media persons are allowed to perform their duties in a free and fearless manner.
”While the NBA maintains that no individual or institution is above the law, it condemns any attempt to muzzle the media and causing any interference in the free functioning of news operations. Such a move also undermines the basic tenets of free speech enshrined in the Constitution of India,” Mr Sharma said.
The NBA president underlined that the media is providing a service that is essential for any democratic society and keeps the public informed and hence must be protected by the law enforcing agencies.