Four Malayalam news channels were barred from a media conference held by Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday, hours after he declared he would not entertain “cadre” media.
Media One, Reporter Live, CPM-backed Kairali News and Congress-supported Jai Hind TV were refused entry to the news conference that itself was a turnaround by the governor who had declared a total boycott of the media, accusing them of not asking relevant questions to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The bar came on a day |when Kerala witnessed hectic activities over the governor’s ultimatum to nine state university vice-chancellors to |resign by 11.30am, citing a Supreme Court judgment |that recently quashed the appointment of M.S. Rajashree, VC of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, for not following proper procedures.
Reporter Live immediately announced through its web portal and social media handles that the channel was boycotting the governor’s media conference.
Media One editor Pramod Raman told The Telegraph that such an action was not expected from a governor.
“This is an action that we don’t expect from a constitutional position like that of a governor. We can’t do anything when certain individuals or political parties avoid certain channels. But a governor’s post is a constitutional institution and barring a section of the media is certainly an undemocratic action,” Raman said.
Raman’s channel has lodged a complaint with Kerala Television Federation, a forum of news channel managements. “We expect some response from them,” he said.
He objected to the governor referring to a section of the media as “cadre” and said it could lead to misunderstanding among the viewers. “Such remarks could give a wrong impression about us since we don’t work for any political party,” he said.
Raman said those who were present at the news conference should have asked about the partial bar on media organisations. “I don’t know if they had asked. My understanding is that they did not.”
Seeking to pre-empt the storm he had kicked up, Khan told the select group of reporters that he always respected the media. “I am saying with all sincerity that I have great respect for the media and consider it absolutely essential for the efficient functioning of a democracy. I started my ministerial career as a minister for information and broadcasting. So I had to interact with the media on a regular basis.”
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists condemned the governor’s decision as |an “interference with media freedom”.
“Barring one section of the media is not appropriate for an institution like the Raj Bhavan. We will be forced to launch a strong protest if this continues,” a KUWJ statement, attributed to its state president M.V. Vineetha and general secretary R. Kiran Babu, said.
“Even the statement this morning in which he ridiculed journalists is highly deplorable,” the KUWJ stated, alluding to Khan’s refusal to comment on the matter saying some journalists belonged to party cadres.
When reporters met him after an event in Thiruvananthapuram, Khan had said: “If you wish to speak to me, write to the Raj Bhavan. I do not know who among you is a genuine journalist and who are the (CPM) cadre masquerading as media. And I do not wish to speak to the cadre.”
The KUWJ said: “It is not appropriate for a person holding a high constitutional post to describe some journalists as party cadres masquerading as journalists. No journalist is a party cadre in Kerala. He should withdraw this most unfortunate statement.”
State Congress vice-president V.T. Balram said everyone should have boycotted the news conference. “Every channel should have boycotted the media conference. The other media houses also should have taken a stand since isolating a few is highly discriminatory,” Balram said.
