SFI members barge into Asianet workplace, abuse and threaten employees

Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) invaded the Asianet News workplace in Ernakulam, Kerala, at roughly 7:30 pm on Friday night in a flagrant act of hooliganism. A bunch of roughly 30 SFI members entered the Asianet News regional headquarters, compelled their well beyond safety guards, and interfered in press operations by yelling slogans and in addition threatening the employees members and journalists. 

The SFI is the Communist Party of India’s (Marxist) pupil department. Asianet News is accused by CPI (M) of ‘manufacturing’ information relating to the alleged sexual assault of over ten woman college students at a college in northern Kerala, as a part of its program final 12 months on the drug problem within the state.

A bunch of 35 SFI activists attacked #Asianet information workplace in Ernakulam after they barged contained in the workplace and threatened to cease the operations.

SFI alleged that the media home is ‘crossing the limits and is forgetting the media ethics’.

Vivek joins @anchoramitaw with particulars pic.twitter.com/vN5OISRWmD

— TIMES NOW (@InstancesNow) March 4, 2023

The SFI members tied a derogatory banner in entrance of the Asianet News headquarters earlier than the Kerala police arrived. The banner mentioned, “this institution is a disgrace to the culture of Kerala”.

After a criticism made by Asianet News resident editor Abhilash G. Nair, the Palarivattam police have initiated an investigation. Around 30 members of the SFI have been charged below IPC sections 143 (illegal meeting), 147 (rioting), and 149  (forming an unlawful meeting for the prosecution of a standard object of homicide). The allegation has been backed by the CCTV video exhibiting the SFI employees getting into the Asianet workplace by outnumbering the safety guards.

The Press Club of India took cognizance of the incident and urged the Kerala authorities to conduct an investigation into the incident. Condemning the incident, it mentioned, “We express concern and lodge our protest over SFI activists reportedly entering the Asianet News office in Ernakulam and intimidating the staff. These strong-arm tactics have no place in a democracy. The Kerala government should probe this incident swiftly.”

We specific concern and lodge our protest over SFI activists reportedly getting into the @AsianetNewsML workplace in Ernakulam and intimidating the employees.

These robust arm ways haven’t any place in a democracy.

The Kerala authorities ought to probe this incident swiftly. pic.twitter.com/pLHmz3vWYN

— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) March 3, 2023

Several different media associations and organizations like Thiruvananthapuram Press Club and KUWJ District Committee additionally condemned the incident and have determined to launch protest applications on March 4 (at present). “Criminals should not be allowed to thrive under cover of organizations,” mentioned Thiruvananthapuram Press Club President M Radhakrishnan and Secretary Ok N Sanu demanding arrest of the activists.

Leaders of the opposition in the meantime asserted that there was a high-level conspiracy behind the violence. VD Satheesan, the chief of the opposition, denounced the SFI activists’ assault on the Asianet News headquarters in Kochi. Satheesan said that these behaviors have been exceptional in Kerala and are similar to what happens in authoritarian states.

Satheesan mentioned that it was fascist to interrupt into the media workplace with a threatening tone whereas on the opposite facet, they spoke about press freedom however solely used violence towards the media.

Earlier, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had condemned the IT raids on the Mumbai and Delhi places of work of the UK-based media outlet BBC. The CPI (M) mentioned that the raids on the BBC places of work have been infringement on press freedom and it was objectionable and that it might embarrass the nation on the worldwide stage. The authorities had carried out raids on the complaints of tax evasion by the BBC.

Also, CPI(M) common secretary Sitaram Yechury had questioned the Prime Minister over the raids. “First ban BBC documentaries. No JPC/enquiry into Adani exposures. Now IT raids on BBC offices! India: ‘Mother of democracy’?” Yechury had requested on Twitter.

Notably, a number of SFI activists showcased the BBC documentary on the Gujarat riots which had been banned by the Indian authorities. Now isn’t SFI which is the scholar wing of the CPI (M) barging right into a media home, an infringement on press freedom, and objectionable?