New Delhi: The Kerala governor’s office on Monday, October 24 barred four television channels from entering the Raj Bhavan to cover his press conference, prompting political parties and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) to mark their protest saying it was an encroachment on the freedom of press.
Soon after Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s press meet, journalists approached governor Arif Mohammed Khan for his reaction but he refused to comment saying he won’t reply to party cadres “masquerading” as journalists.
“I can only tell you, please whosoever wants to talk to me, they can send a request to Raj Bhavan, I will make it sure that I talk to you. But I don’t know who among you is a genuine journalist and who are the cadre masquerading as media. And I do not wish to speak to the cadre,” Khan told the media after an event in Thiruvananthapuram.
The governor’s remarks come amidst his ongoing tussle with the state’s Left Front government over control over the state’s universities, amongst other issues.
Khan, who is the de facto chancellor of all universities in the state, had on Sunday asked the vice-chancellors (VC) of nine universities to tender their resignations. After heavy criticism of the move from chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kerala high court on Monday heard a plea by eight of the nine V-Cs and ruled that they could continue at their posts, saying that the communication sent by the governor was not proper.
Also read: Kerala Governor Versus Vice-Chancellors: ‘No One Can Be Asked To Quit,’ Says HC
Later on Monday, Khan called a press conference but channels including Kairali, Reporter, Media One and Jaihind were not given permission to cover the same.
“It’s not right on behalf of the governor, which is a constitutional post, to deny permission to a section of media. Avoiding the media is a fascist approach. This is not good for a democracy,” leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said.
Meanwhile, the KUWJ registered its strong protest against the ban on certain channels.
“The ban amounts to encroaching upon the freedom of press. There are media houses which have sought time as the governor insisted. The ban on a section of media cannot be accepted from a constitutional institution. If this continues, KUWJ will be forced to raise strong protests,” KUWJ said in a statement.
(With PTI inputs)