TRIVANDRUM, 22 June — The Kerala state government is under attack for failing to tackle an eight-day-old boycott by the media protesting new press regulations introduced by the speaker of the assembly.
Eleven TV channels are refusing to cover the question hour proceedings of the Kerala Assembly, protesting new government guidelines imposed on them by the speaker.
Chief Minister A.K. Antony has been criticized for refusing to attend the post-Cabinet briefing on June 19 because reporters sported black badges and blacks gags on their mouths in protest at the meeting. Former Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar said: "The chief minister should not have canceled the press conference. The media has every right to protest and what they did was nothing harsh." Added another former Chief Minister P.K. Vasudevan Nair: "They have played into the hands of the speaker and by now everyone knows that the government is behind the new guidelines issued by the speaker."
Leader of opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has also hit out at Antony saying no other state chief minister has behaved so rudely to the media. "It is high time that Antony realizes that it is his responsibility to sort out this issue," said Achuthanandan.
From the time the boycott began, Antony has refused to meet journalists though many have sought his audience. On Thursday, he even canceled a program of a logo release of the forthcoming Global Investors Meet in his chambers. "What is Antony up to? We never expected him to behave in a childish manner," said Roy Mathew, president of the Kerala Journalist Union. "Isn’t he the very same person who is talking about transparency day in and day out?" As per the new guidelines, TV cameras should focus on the speaker if there is a commotion in the floor of the house. The speaker said this would bestow decorum on the proceedings.
Hitherto all TV channels were free to show any kind of image from the assembly. According to other restrictions, the TV camera crew is supposed to leave the premises of the assembly soon after Question Hour. While the previous Left Democratic Front was in power, cameras were allowed to remain inside assembly premises and also cover walkouts.
Reports indicate that Antony has summoned senior Congress party legislator and UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, from Delhi yesterday. Chandy is believed to be the right person to negotiate with the media and end the stalemate.
