Chennai: Breaking his silence on the Sun TV-Centre standoff, DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Friday said the Centre’s rejection of applications for Sun TV Group to participate in Phase III of FM auctions amounted to strangulating democracy. Karunanidhi also asked the government to reconsider its decision.
Stating that denying permission based on “unproven allegations” without proper explanation on the threat to national security for an organisation like Sun Group amounts to strangulation of democracy. The DMK president also said the Centre should uphold the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution of India by immediately reconsidering its decision. Citing Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi’s statement supporting grant of security clearance to 33 channels of Sun TV Network. Karunanidhi also referred to expression of solidarity from various quarters for his grand nephews.
Mr Rohatgi had said corruption cases being investigated against the network’s promoter could not be a ground to deny it security clearance. The attorney general further described as “condemnable” the rejection of Sun TV’s five applications. Curiously, support poured in for the Marans even from Opposition camp with PMK founder Dr Ramadoss and MDMK founder Vaiko besides TNCC chief E.V.K.S. Elangovan. Vaiko accused the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre of “crippling” media.
“Central government is involved in the atrocious act of crippling Sun TV Group which has crores of audience across the world,” he added. Dr Ramadoss said that while it cannot be denied that there were charges of “economic offences” against Sun TV, making attempts to “cripple” it without a court verdict “amounts to attack on freedom of expression.” “If a media organisation can be crippled for just facing economic offences, any media which the government does not like can be targeted like this. This could set a dangerous precedent. It is strongly condemnable,” he said.
