B V Seetharam, Editor of Karavali Ale (Mangalore) arrested for stament on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal

source: PUCL Mangalore

Newspaper editor held for criticising RSS

Bangalore: Journalists are up in the arms against arrest of an editor from Mangalore alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is targeting him because of his anti-rightist ideology.

A day after he made his statement against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal , Editor of Karavali Ale (a Kannada daily from Mangalore) B V Seetharam was arrested, handcuffed and sent to jail.

Seetharam is the latest victim of continuing attack on media in the South India. His crime is the relentless campaign against the alleged communal activities of the right wing organisations in the sensitive coastal Karnataka.

This incident has now divided the media vertically. Journalists in Karnataka held a protest march in Bangalore condemning the government action.

“The Sangh Parivar has destroyed his office premises, they have beaten the vendors of the publication, they have destroyed the distribution network. The pawning glory of Sangh Parivar is in handcuffing him and parading him,” says Editor and Activist Gauri Lankesh.

Media observers and professionals allege that the BJP government is using police to harrass the newspapers and TV news channels opposed to its style of functioning.

Three criminal cases were slapped on a popular Kannada news channel just two weeks ago.

In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, it is the Congress government which is facing the ire of media.

Media baron Ramoji Rao of Eenadu to pro – Chiranjeevi Andhra Jyoti has been targeted allegedly by the Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajashekhara Reddy in the recent past. In the months leading up to the General Elections, ruling parties appear intent on making the media fall in line.

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