Seetharam: Scribes welcome HC rap on state

Journalists are welcoming the Karnataka high court's decision to reprimand the state government over the illegal detention of journalist B V Seetharam.

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Seetharam, chairman and managing director of Chitra Publications and the Publisher of eveninger "Karavali Ale", was arrested near Karkala in Udupi district, causing widespread protests from the journalists fraternity and civil society.

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While coming down heavily on the state government for detaining Seetharam, the HC on Wednesday asked the state government to pay Rs.10,000 to the journalist.

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There were strong protests in the state soon after Seetharam's arrest. In Bangalore Karnataka Working Journalists Association, Reporters' Guild and Journalists representing various media houses protested against the handcuffing of Seetharam.

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They had also sent an open letter to the home minister, governor, chief minister, Editors' Guild, Press Council of India, President, Prime Minister, National and State Human Rights Council for handcuffing and parading Seetharam in public.

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MiD DAY sought the reaction of journalists on Seetharam's illegal detention and the HC's verdict in favour of him.

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Editors Guild of India Secretary General, K S Sachidananda Murthy said, "I welcome the decision of the high court. It was a conspiracy of the local authorities to keep him in prison for one reason or the other. HC has rendered justice to him. It threw light on the improper documentation and deliberate arrest. Court has asked the state to compensate Seetharam, which will act as a deterrent for the state to harass journalists in future", he added.

Senior journalist Vikash Nanjappa of Rediff.com said, "As for the senior journalist B V Seetharam is concerned, it was a trauma waiting to happen. Seetharam has written several articles against the BJP and it was obvious that they would seek their pound of flesh once they came to power. There is a court of law and each one has the right to approach it. In my opinion, the BJP should not have taken this case too personally. A defamation suit is fine, but what was the need to handcuff this journalist? Seetharam was handcuffed and produced before the court. Now this is something that the Supreme Court has frowned upon. Worse the state government and its police have given them a bad name!", he said.

He also said, "Illegal detention and then issuing a warrant when the man was already in jail shows the petty politics of the BJP and they ought to realize that they are not going to reach anywhere if they decide to take everything so personal".

Vishal Krishna, senior journalist with a business magazine, said, "The police can't handcuff a journalist and parade him in public. Seetharam was brought to the court handcuffed, which is totally wrong. Also it was illegal detention and later a body warrant was issued in spite of he being in jail. After doing all these, they gained nothing but ended up paying fine. They should move carefully while doing such acts next time".

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