Over 300 academics and writers from across the country have expressed solidarity with the Church-led fisherfolk protesting against the Adani group’s Vizhinjam seaport in Thiruvananthapuram and condemned what they see as a malicious campaign against a women’s rights organisation that supports the agitation.

The signatories, who include social activist Medha Patkar and filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, have under the banner of the Vizhinjam Struggle Solidarity Committee expressed support for the 111-day-old protest against the project, which the agitators blame for the coastal erosion that has destroyed their homes and livelihood.

The statement accuses some media outlets of carrying out a slander campaign against the protesters.

The agitation has been opposed by the ruling Left and the BJP. The Congress has remained non-committal.

“As the coastal community’s sit-in protest continues against the distress caused by the Vizhinjam Adani port (and is) gathering solidarity and support at the state level, corporate-backed media like News 18, Janam TV, Deshabhimani and Kerala Kaumudi are now resorting to blatant lies and misinformation against the protest and the protesters,” the statement says.

It condemns the media campaign accusing Sakhi, an NGO that supports the agitation, of receiving Rs 11 crore in foreign funds to sabotage the seaport project.

Aleyamma Vijayan, one of the leaders of Sakhi, has filed a defamation case against certain media outlets.

“The details on the Sakhi website show that all their activities are transparent. We suppor t this le g al suit and wish this organisation to operate smoothly in the future,” the statement says.

It urges people to “protest against this false propaganda”.

Among the signatories are Ram Puniyani of the National Solidarity Forum, feminist scholar Devika, economist K.T. Rammohan, novelist C. Radhakrishnan, and feminist K. Ajitha.