இன்று சட்டப்பேரவையில், ஜனநாயகத்தின் குரல்வளையை நெறிக்கும் விதத்தில் புதிய தலைமுறை தொலைக்காட்சி மீது தொடரப்பட்டிருக்கும் வழக்கை எதிர்த்து...

DMK leader M.K. Stalin moved a calling attention motion in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on June 11, 2018, strongly condemning the registration of criminal cases against Puthiya Thalaimurai television channel and its journalists. Stalin characterized the police action as a blatant attempt to throttle freedom of the press and silence independent media. He declared that intimidating journalists who host balanced public debates demonstrates how ruthlessly democratic dissent is crushed under the AIADMK administration.

The police had filed first information reports against the television channel and its program anchor following a debate show held in Tirunelveli where participants expressed divergent political opinions. Stalin pointed out that rather than safeguarding free speech, the state police apparatus acted with unprecedented hostility against journalistic institutions at the behest of ruling party affiliates. He noted that registering non-bailable cases against news reporters creates an atmosphere of fear, deterring independent media from reporting on sensitive social and political issues.

Stalin demanded the immediate withdrawal of all vindictive criminal proceedings instituted against media professionals. He urged the state executive to respect press freedom as the essential fourth pillar of democracy. Stalin affirmed that the DMK will vigorously defend journalists' rights to report without administrative harassment.