Police register cases against journalist, director, MLA
The Coimbatore police registered a case against Tamil News Channel ‘Puthiya Thalaimurai’ and its journalist Suresh following a ruckus at a programme called “Round table” organised by the channel in a private college auditorium on Friday evening.
By : migrator
Update: 2018-06-10 22:45 GMT
Coimbatore
Police said that they have also registered a case against Film Director Ameer and MLA U Thaniyarasu.
Police registered a case against the channel and Ameer, for allegedly attempting to promote enmity on religious grounds. Police said Ameer while replying to BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan, made certain remarks about the communal tension prevailed in Coimbatore following the murder of Hindu Munnani worker C Sasikumar in 2016.
The supporters of BJP, who were in the auditorium, raised objections to Ameer’s speech and disrupted the programme.
The police registered the case against Thaniyarasu as he was supporting Ameer’s speech.
Police registered a case against Ameer under sections 153(A) and 505 of IPC, for making remarks that could lead to tensions between sections of people.
Police also registered case against TV channel and the reporter Suresh who arranged the show and were booked under sections 153(A), 505 of IPC and 3(1) Tamil Nadu property prevention of Damage and Loss Act for organising the programme.
The participants in the round table programme were AIADMK leader and MLA Semmalai, Tamil Manila Congress leader Gnanadesigan, DMK leader and MP TKS Elangovan, BJP’s Tamilisai Soundararajan, CPM leader K Balakrishnan, Kongu Ilaignar Peravai leader U Thaniyarasu, Indhia Kudiyarasu Katchi leader SK Thamizharasan and Director Ameer.
Coimbatore Press Club (CPC) condemned the city police action and said registering a case against Television Channel and a Journalist clearly shows that the Tamil Nadu government is threatening the Media. CPC secretary S Srinivasan urged to the state government to withdraw the cases filed against the Channel and the journalist.
Do not crush press freedom, say Left, VCK
Various political parties have strongly condemned the incident in which BJP cadre reportedly attempted to attack MLA Thaniyarasu’s supporters and director Ameer during the shooting of a TV debate in Coimbatore. Leaders termed the act as ‘crushing the press freedom.’
R Mutharasan, state secretary of CPI, said that the attack on Ameer by BJP and Sangh Parivar is highly condemnable.
“The members from BJP and Parivar deliberately resorted to this unwanted act and their intention is to prevent the event from broadcasting,” he said, adding that even after BJP state president, Tamilisai Soundararajan attempted to pacify their members, they were continuing to involve in altercation.
Similarly, state CPM unit launched a scathing attack on BJP and Sangh Parivar. K Balakrishnan, state secretary, CPM, in a statement, said “The BJP members could not digest the fact that leaders from other political parties during the debate put forth facts. They have indulged in argument and tried to attack other party members.” The ugly fighting was a clear indication that they could go to any extent, if other political members blamed the BJP, he added.
Stating that the BJP and Sangh Parivar members were not in a mood to listen to contrary views, Balakrishnan urged all the parties to voice against the agitating BJP cadre to save the democracy.
Meanwhile, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, demanded the arrest of BJP cadre. “It is shocking that such incident has happened in the presence of police personnel. The police, instead of registering case against BJP assailants, have lodged complaint against director Ameer and the concerned TV Channel,” This is highly condemnable, he said.
Shed anti-media stand, Vaiko warns government
MDMK general secretary Vaiko had condemned the state government for filing a case against a Tamil media house in Coimbatore and demanded them to revoke the case.
Addressing reporters at Madurai airport on Sunday, Vaiko said that the media house conducted a round-table debate in Coimbatore in a proper manner and in the debate members from DMK, CPM, BJP and some independent people like Director Ameer participated. When BJP member criticised the protesters of Thoothukudi by calling them anti-socials there was no uproar in the crowd but when Ameer, who is a Tamil nationalist, tried to speak he was not allowed to speak by the BJP and Hindu Munnani members. They even tried to attack him by approaching the stage and what was worse was that the person in-charge of the program was booked under non-bailable section.
Through this action it is clear that government is acting against the freedom of press. It is very clear that people of the state are angry at the state government and the government should not develop enmity with the media houses, warned Vaiko. He also critcised the state government for the Thoothukudi police firing in which 13 persons died by calling it a planned murder.
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