Kozhikode: The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) State Committee called out the provocative slogans raised by CPM activists in Vandur, who threatened to chop off the hand of MediaOne Managing Editor, C. Dawood.
The Journalists’ Union pointed out that issuing threats while publicly standing for media freedom and civil rights must be condemned.
Adding further, the guild said that while there are many ways to expose untruths and disagree with the media’s stance, it is not appropriate for an outfit like the CPI(M) to threaten physical harm to a journalist.
It was also pointed out that calls for violent protest against MediaOne in response to criticism pose a serious concern for the channel’s employees.
KUWJ State President K. P. Reji and General Secretary Suresh Edappal demanded that the party leadership rein in and correct its activists, and also called upon the police to take action against those who issued the threats.
The journalists’ union MediaOne Cell also expressed concern over the threats made against Dawood, stating that such threats constitute an attack on media freedom.
The Cell further noted that the call for violent protest against MediaOne is deeply concerning for its employees.
The threat to chop off Dawood’s hand was issued during a demonstration organised by the party’s Vandur Area Committee, with activists proclaiming that “if he spreads false stories against the party, his hands will be chopped off”.
The party had held a protest against comments made by Dawood referring to former MLA N. Kannan’s speech in the Assembly.
The remarks by MediaOne Managing Editor Dawood, in response to communal accusations by a local CPM leader against the TV channel, enraged party workers.
Dawood cited a submission by N. Kannan, who served as Vandur MLA from 1996 to 2001, made in the Assembly on 23 March 1999, in which he referred to the “Talibanisation” of Malappuram district.
In his editorial programme on the channel, Dawood criticised the CPM leader by referencing Kannan’s submission.
However, the CPM claimed that the comrade’s speech, which was directed against the NDF, was misrepresented as being against Muslims.