By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has issued an order to Kerala Government to take action against the Malayalam daily and fortnightly Thejas “so that communal agenda of the publication is kept under check.” The publication has refuted charges leveled against it in the central government notice to the state.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs in a letter dated 18th November 2009 and addressed to Chief Secretary, Kerala says: “The Thejas, the fortnightly as well as the daily, circulated in Kerala, prints provocative write-ups/editorials/news items with a communal slant.”
The letter further says: “Thejas is a part of Pan-Islamic publication network, catering to the communal agenda of certain organisations. The publication invariably takes anti-establishment views on issues like plight of Muslims, Kashmir and India’s relations with USA & Israel. Occasionally, it describes Government’s counter-militancy effort as state-sponsored terrorism, thereby endorsing the stance of militant elements.”
The publication, however, has rejected charge of being communal or anti-nation. It admitted its views may be against the government, and it has the right to have so. Otherwise, what is the meaning of an independent media?
Talking to TwoCircles.net, Ahmed Shafee, Resident Editor of Thejas daily in Calicut, said: “What we are writing, this notice is telling us, is against the government. But what is the meaning of the freedom of the press. We have the right to criticize the government. It’s quite natural for this paper to criticize the governmnent for injustice. We have not written any article any news against the country. So allegations in the letter are baseless.”
On the charge of being part of Pan-Islamic publication network, catering to the communal agenda of certain organisations, Shafee said: Our policy and program is very open. We have been telling that we are standing for the oppressed people of India. We are working for the underprivileged, backwards and the minorities. That is our proclaimed policy. We are not doing anything behind that policy. We have nothing to hide in that policy.”
The Home Ministry notice had asked the state government to take action against the periodical. “It is requested that appropriate action may be taken so that communal agenda of the publication is kept under check, and communal harmony and peace of the state is not vitiated,” the end of the letter reads.
The state government, however, has not sent any notice to the periodical till date.
“So far no action has been taken, nothing has happened. They have not sent us any notice asking us why not action is taken against you,” said Shafee.
Link:
http://www.thejasnews.com/