Media turning blind eye to terrorism, alleges Gurumurthy

Columnist S Gurumurthy has alleged that the Indian media was turning a blind eye to issues regarding national safety and terrorism.

While inaugurating a district level seminar on national safety organised by Sree Guruji Janmasathabdi Aghosha Samithi, in connection with the birth centenary celebrations of Guruji Sadasiv Madhav Golwalkar at the Rama Varma Hall here on Sunday, Gurumurthy alleged that this attitude would only help extremist and fundamentalist outfits in the country.

Gurumurthy said that the Indian media was still following the footsteps of the colonial rulers in their approach towards various issues. They have been remaining silent on issues regarding national safety and extremism, he said.

Citing the lukewarm attitude of the media towards issues like the conviction of Afsal Guru, Abdul Nasser Madani’s bail and the approach towards POTA, Murthy alleged that this wrong approach only helped Islamic fundamentalist. He suggested that the media should, instead, take a proactive role in helping the State to eliminate extremist forces.

On the issue of national safety, he said that the safety of our country was not the sole responsibility of the armed forces, but every citizen should possess that feeling. Safety of a nation not only comes from gunpoint, every citizen should be conscious about this issue, he said.

P Raviyachan, former captain, Kerala Ranji Cricket team, inaugurated the morning session. Murali Parappuram, journalist, Kaleeswaram Raj, legal expert, and M Satheesan, coordinator, Viswasamskara Kendram participated in the discussion. Dr N Unnikrishnan Nair, former Vice-Chancellor, Cochin University of Science of Technology and K Jayaprasad, State general secretary, Bharatiya Vicharakendram delivered talks in the education seminar.

Journalist Hari S Kartha, MG Radhakrishnan and V Rejikumar presented papers at the media seminar.