You will be next...

In last 5 days 2 of my journalist friends were brutally attacked by the goons of political parties and few others were threatened by the others. Sanesh, the photographer of Indian Express was attacked by the goons of CPM at claicut, while Sanjeeve, Republic TV’s Chennai reporter, was attacked by AIADMK supporters at Chennai. While the CPM goons snatched and damaged the camera of Sanesh, the others snatched the mike of Sanjeeve Sadagopan and smashed on his head till the metallic mike got broken. The same AIADMK goons kicked the face of Sanjeeve’s camera person on his face; both were taken into hospital later.

Sanesh being attacked y CPM goons

Sanesh, whom we affectionately call Sakha, bought his camera with a bank loan. The CPM district leaders assured that they will buy a new camera for him, of course that’s a good gesture, but their inability to control their supporters from manhandling others is not a good thing at all. This is not the first time the CPM activists attacking the media and damaging their equipments.

Sanjeeve getting beaten 

in another case R Sreejith of mathrubhumi news and Sanakan of kerala kaumudi are attacked by the supporters of BJP/RSS. They even filed a complaint against R Sreejith on his ‘remark’ in a watsapp group. Sanakan was verbally attacked in twitter by a man with a fake id. Those men behind masks are trying to threaten those who comment or post views against their ideology.

Republic TV reporter Sanjeeve and camera man Ragav

Last week we saw the CBI raiding the houses of NDTV co-founders on bank case. That was a ridiculous attempt by the Modi Govt to stop NDTV raising voice against the govt’s anti-people policies. Even in the past, NDTV questioned the bad intentions of the govt policies regardless of the colour of their flag. Such an untameable media is always a threat to those who always make mistakes. Hence the Central govt tried to threaten them using the tool CBI. Of course, the Prannoy Roy gave a befitting reply to the govt saying we will not succumb to these attempts to blatantly undermine democracy and free speech in India.

To where does the nation head? These are not mere attack against those people. But against the constitution assured rights itself. Freedom of expression is not allowed to be diluted. These kinds of attacks should be condemned. The political leaders should take the responsibility of controlling those goons who takes away the good names of their party or organisations. But it’s true that fascists won’t control their men because they want to keep others threatened. So the public should be aware to isolate those goons. The media fraternity should stand together to rise voice against these people regardless of their politics.   

Don’t misunderstand that Freedom of expression is only meant for the media, but it’s everyone’s fundamental right.  
Today if its media, tomorrow you will be the target...