Pics: Meryick D' Silva
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore Mar 11: TV Journalists Association Dakshina Kannada, held a protest against State minister D K Shivakumar for allegedly assaulting and filing a fake complaint of bribing against two working journalists of state TV Channel.
Addressing the gathering, TV Journalist Tharanath Kapikad said "Assault and arrest of two innocent journalists is inhuman. It is a foul play scheduled to trap the journalists who had planned a sting operation. The attitude of the state minister is a mockery of democracy. Sting operation is also a part of transforming Journalism. Journalists are working to wipe out corruption", he said.
"Police are not accepting complaints from the journalists due to pressure from the minister. The journalists were harassed and assaulted by the followers of minister. Present day journalists are facing several problems. There is no one to hear the plight of journalists who work for the betterment of society. Chief Minister should look into this matter very seriously. We will be holding large scale agitation if proper action is not taken", he said.
Journalist Pushparaj Shetty said "We condemn physical attack on journalists. It is still unclear why the journalists were arrested and sent to jail. Journalism is called as the fourth pillar of democracy but this attitude of the minister and his followers has insulted the system. Executive functions are misused. We condemn the manhandling of journalists" he said.
Several electronic media journalists were present.
A memorandum in this regard was submitted to the governor through the Deputy Commissioner.