Trade unions protest in front of TV channel over anchor's comment

Thiruvananthapuram, March 30 (IANS) In a first of its kind, trade union workers attached to various political parties barring the BJP marched to the office of leading Malayalam TV news channel, Asianet, here on Wednesday to register their protest against the comment made by their news anchor on Monday night's prime news bulletin.

Anchor Vinu V.John was debating over the protests by the joint trade union protest against the policies of the Centre. Kerala witnessed a total bandh and workers taking part in the protests literally took over the streets of the state leaving innocent citizens running for shelter.

John was peeved when a patient who was being moved in an auto rickshaw came under the ire of the protesters in north Kerala.

In the news hour debate he made a statement if anyone did such a thing to the CITU general secretary Elamaram Kareem, a Rajya Sabha member and a top CPI-M leader, what would have happened.

This irked the CPI-M, especially after it came from John who has been having a running feud with the cyber wing of the CPI-M and also with P.M. Manoj, press secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

A peeved Kareem said what John said is not acceptable and this is not journalism.

"I will register a complaint against John before the State Police chief and also with the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha," said Kareem.

The Asianet news channel has pointed out that those who are out to protest are propagating an edited video clip of the debate, to whip up passion, while they have put out the entire portion.

Expressing his dissent, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said he does not advocate such a protest against a media house.

"The media will be critical and just see how much we the Congress are attacked and that's their job. We are totally against this protest and even though the INTUC is taking part in the protest, it's not a feeder organisation of the Congress party and they are not bound to listen to us. But I will definitely speak to the INTUC leaders and tell them our view," said Satheesan.