The last two days have seen all major political parties in Tamil Nadu, barring the AIADMK, BJP and the DMDK, coming out supporting the Maran Brothers owned Sun Network over the Union home ministry’s decision to deny the security clearance to Sun TV group to bid for FM radio licences.
The Congress, the PMK, the left including the CPI(M) and a number of fringe political entities, have questioned the Union home ministry’s decision to deny security clearance to the Sun Network.
“The Central Government is gradually and severely curbing freedom of expression. This is an attack on media freedom,” said G Ramakrishnan, the CPI(M) polit bureau member, in a statement.
Even S Ramadoss, founder, PMK lambasted the BJP Government at the centre for denial of security clearance to Sun Network.
Various journalists’ unions too have come to the fore all of a sudden over the last week with statements “condemning” the denial of security clearance to the Sun Network. Interestingly, the persons who issued the letters condemning the action of the Union Government expressed their ignorance over the reason behind the action. A vast majority of the journalists are of the view that the denial of security clearance by the Home Ministry has nothing to do with political vendetta as made out by the DMK and its prospective allies.
“All parties are condemning the denial of security clearance to Sun Network, hence we too have expressed our solidarity with the Maran Brothers,” said G K Nagaraj, president,
Kongunadu Jananayaga Katchi, an ally of the PMK, when asked about the statement of support. Nagaraj was candid enough to say he does not know the reason behind the denial of security clearance to the network owned by the Marans.