Mangalore, November 13: A protest against the arrest of journalist Naveen Soorinje was held in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Mangalore on Tuesday under the banner of Karavali Souharda Sangharsha Vedike.
Speaking on the occasion, B Madhava, Chief Secretary of the Vedike, said that Mr. Soorinje has been put behind bars for no reason.
“It shows how the police and the government can manipulate laws and treat people to achieve their motives. Does recording an event and telecasting it on TV qualify to be called as dacoity? The police have slapped cases of rioting and dacoity on a journalist. Action has to be taken against police officers instead who have taken such a step”, he said.
Mr. Madhava also accused the BJP government of playing a part in the arrest of Mr. Soorinje and said that it is trying its best to try to gain an upper hand ahead of elections by creating communal tensions in the region. “But they must realise that their victory was just a co-incidence and all their communal tactics are not going to help them”, he said.
UT Khader, MLA, said that if Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar was able to condemn the homestay attack and DK district in charge minister CT Ravi called it a 'Talibani' act, it was only because mediapersons like Mr. Soorinje had exposed the heinous crime on TV. The Karnataka High Court also expressed disgust at the incident, Mr. Khader said.
MG Hegde, JDS leader, in his address said that the BJP government had put a journalist like Mr. Soorinje behind bars on one hand and withdrawn cases of hundreds of communal criminals in the state. People of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi must not tolerate moral policing anymore, he said.
Gulzar Banu, Mayor, Sara Aboobakkar, Writer, Muneer Katipalla, DYFI leader, Kripa Amar Alva, Member of Advisory Board, AAI, were present among others.
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