Chennai Press Club accuses TN government of muzzling the press with its FIR against TV channel for its report on currency stashed away at a bungalow in kanchipuram.
The Chennai Press Club on Friday moved the chief election commissioner to intervene in what they call the muzzling of the media through an FIR against a private television channel and its news editor for reporting on an issue raised by a leader of recognized political party.
In a memorandum to the chief election commissioner, TN chief electoral officer, union home secretary and the TN DGP, chief secretary, the Chennai press club sought their urgent and immediate intervention to prevent the attack on freedom of Media in Tamil Nadu.
The Press Club noted that an FIR (Date - 30.03.16 & FIR No : 108/16) has been registered against Sun TV management & Sun News Editor under non-bailable sections by Thiruporur police in Kancheepuram District under section 153-A (intent to promote enmity by words) and 505 (1) (B) (Intent to cause fear or alarm to Public).
The complaint was lodged by former AIADMK MP and district secretary Mr. Chitlapakkam S Rajenderan against MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, Sun TV management & Sun News News Editor. The complaint alleged that the Sun TV carried the news about allegations made by MDMK chief Vaiko that container lorries laden with crores of rupees were parked at a bungalow in Kanchipuram district.
The Chennai press club said that this news was carried by many news channels and media houses across the country. "In fact, you have also been quoted by media that you are waiting for a report from the Kancheepuram collector on the complaints from various political parties on stationing of many containers," the Chennai Press Club said in its memoranda sent to many authorities on Friday.
The FIR filed against the media organization under stringent sections of IPC is nothing but an attempt to muzzle the media and a direct assault on media freedom, it said.
The channel is well within its rights to publish or telecast news on the basis of a representation given by any registered political party to the Election Commission, the Chennai Press Club said and questioned as to how is filing an FIR against a channel and journalists justified?
"We at the Chennai Press Club feel that this is an attempt to threaten the media and it's unfortunate that the media is being targeted for doing its duty at a time when Tamil Nadu is witnessing the biggest festival of Democracy," the Chennai Press Club said and urged the chief election commissioner to intervene personally in this matter and get the FIR against the journalists and media organisations quashed.
The Chennai Press Club on Friday moved the chief election commissioner to intervene in what they call the muzzling of the media through an FIR against a private television channel and its news editor for reporting on an issue raised by a leader of recognized political party.
In a memorandum to the chief election commissioner, TN chief electoral officer, union home secretary and the TN DGP, chief secretary, the Chennai press club sought their urgent and immediate intervention to prevent the attack on freedom of Media in Tamil Nadu.
The Press Club noted that an FIR (Date - 30.03.16 & FIR No : 108/16) has been registered against Sun TV management & Sun News Editor under non-bailable sections by Thiruporur police in Kancheepuram District under section 153-A (intent to promote enmity by words) and 505 (1) (B) (Intent to cause fear or alarm to Public).
The complaint was lodged by former AIADMK MP and district secretary Mr. Chitlapakkam S Rajenderan against MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, Sun TV management & Sun News News Editor. The complaint alleged that the Sun TV carried the news about allegations made by MDMK chief Vaiko that container lorries laden with crores of rupees were parked at a bungalow in Kanchipuram district.
The Chennai press club said that this news was carried by many news channels and media houses across the country. "In fact, you have also been quoted by media that you are waiting for a report from the Kancheepuram collector on the complaints from various political parties on stationing of many containers," the Chennai Press Club said in its memoranda sent to many authorities on Friday.
The FIR filed against the media organization under stringent sections of IPC is nothing but an attempt to muzzle the media and a direct assault on media freedom, it said.
The channel is well within its rights to publish or telecast news on the basis of a representation given by any registered political party to the Election Commission, the Chennai Press Club said and questioned as to how is filing an FIR against a channel and journalists justified?
"We at the Chennai Press Club feel that this is an attempt to threaten the media and it's unfortunate that the media is being targeted for doing its duty at a time when Tamil Nadu is witnessing the biggest festival of Democracy," the Chennai Press Club said and urged the chief election commissioner to intervene personally in this matter and get the FIR against the journalists and media organisations quashed.