By TCN News,
Chennai: A joint press statement of political and social leaders, human rights activists, writers and journalists has urged for media freedom.
The statement was issued in context to forces of religious bigotry for their insistence on dismissing and removing the political analyst of Sun TV Thiru. Veerapandian from his post and position for his alleged speeches against religious fundamentalism.
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Mr. Veerapandian
“India is a Democratic Republic. To express one’s opinions freely and without fear is one of the basic rights accorded to its citizens in the Constitution itself. This right is fundamental to all citizens of India including Press and Media people,” the joint statement said.
Terming the action against the ideals of secularism and the fundamental rights of expression, the joint-statement said, “We the undersigned who have faith in the efficacy of the lofty ideal of secularism and ardently advocate it.”
A few weeks ago Mr. Veerapandian participated in a meeting in Chennai wherein a human rights organization released its fact finding report on the Muzaffarnagar riots. While speaking on the occasion Mr. Veerapandian made certain critical remarks on BJP and its Prime Ministerial Candidate Mr. Narendera Modi. The video of his speech was uploaded on social media.
BJP’s State Office Secretary Sarvothaman then wrote a letter to the MD of Sun TV Group on December 23, 2013, calling Veerapandian’s speech “divisive and could create problems between two communities.” BJP demanded actions against him.
The letter threatened that none of the BJP members will participate in any of the programmes hosted by Veerapandian.
An article was also published in Vijaya Bharatam magazine, criticizing and threatening him.
The statement added, “The right wing elements who have threatened Mr. Veerapandian with dire consequences in the social media are forgetting their own hawkish attitude.”
Meanwhile a complaint has been lodged against Veerapandian with the Commissioner of Greater Chennai Police.
Consequently from last Saturday, Sun TV has stopped telecasting Veerapandian’s programmes. The statement has called it a personal attack by the BJP on Veerapandian.
Veerapandian of Sun TV has been conducting the TV’s popular political talk show for the past seventeen years in “fair manner, without fear or favour.”
The joint-statement urged the Sun TV management to allow him to resume his duties as an anchor and telecast programmes featuring him to “uphold the freedom of expression.”
They also urged all the press and media people to come forward to condemn the “threatening moves by politico-religious bigots to the media in future.”
The joint statement was signed by Mr. K. Veeramani, President of Dravidar Kazhagam.
