A meeting to show solidarity with Malayalam journalist Siddique Kappan, who completed two years in jail on Wednesday, has been called off following a complaint by the BJP and a police report citing possibility of law-and-order issues.
Indian Union Muslim League leader Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal was scheduled to inaugurate the meeting at Kozhikode Town Hall on Wednesday evening. Lok Sabha member M.K. Raghavan, MLAs K.K. Rema, P. Ubaidulla, and Kappan’s wife Raihanath Kappan and daughter Mehnaz Kappan were among those listed as speakers at the event organised by a group of progressive individuals under the banner Pauravakasha Vedhi (Forum for Citizen’s Rights).
Kozhikode district president of BJP V.K. Sajeevan had addressed a news conference against the event on Tuesday and written to the police seeking cancellation of the event.
N.P. Chekutty, a member of the Pauravakasha Vedhi, told The Telegraph that an officer from the police special branch spoke to him on Wednesday morning and cited the possibility of law and order issues at the venue. “I got a call from a special branch officer who said there could be law-and-order issues. He even asked us to apply for police security. We (the organisers) then took a call to cancel the event not wanting to start another controversy,” he said.
“It is a tragic situation that well-meaning citizens aren’t even allowed to organise to uphold basic rights like free speech,” he added.
The Supreme Court had on September 9 granted bail to Kappan. He, however, continues to be lodged in a Lucknow jail awaiting the outcome of his bail plea in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The Delhi-based retainer of Malayalam news portal azhimukham.com was arrested on October 5, 2020, while on his way to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh to cover the rape and murder of a Dalit teenager.
At the time of his arrest, Kappan was the secretary of the Delhi unit of Kerala Union of Working Journalists.
The arrested, including Kappan, were accused of attempting to foment communal strife in Hathras, a charge they have denied.
Delhi meet
The Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists observed Journalist Rights Protection Day on Wednesday to mark two years of Kappan's arrest. The meeting was planned as a candlelight vigil at the Press Club of India's gates but was conducted online only after police told the organisers to either conduct their event inside the club or apply for permission to hold it on Jantar Mantar Road.
The union’s Delhi unit secretary D. Dhanasumod told The Telegraph: “Our thoughts are with all journalists like Kappan who are in jail for their work. Our meeting was to raise awareness about their plight and appeal for their release.”
The meeting was inaugurated by KUWJ president M. V. Vineetha and was addressed by R. Rajagopal, editor of The Telegraph.
