Janam TV is a news channel that has changed the norms of the Malayalam media. A channel that gave a voice to the grassroots who were marginalized by pseudo-secularism.
When people entered the living room of the Malayalees on TV, the media scene in Kerala was left-centric. It was a time when separatist ideologues were celebrated and the media world managed to hide Islamic terrorism.
When Janam TV emerged as a nationalistic channel, the first attempt was to disregard the channel, however, when defeated, the next move was to attack by hook or crook. Their attempts now reach to a stage where Janam TV is now haunted in the controversial gold smuggling case.
The channel came under heavy attack from other media outlets after customs questioned its coordinating editor Anil Nambiar. In an exclusive interview by Indus Scrolls Bureuo Malayalam, GK Suresh Baby, the Editor-in-Chief of Janam TV expresses his views on various matters that have a heavy influence in the contemporary political scenario in the state.
The name of the Janam Channel is being dragged into the biggest political controversy of the Pinarayi government. How do you respond to this?
The news about gold smuggling was most accurately and sharply reported by Janam TV from the beginning. The most important of these is the role of the state government in smuggling. We brought into the notice of the public the evidence of the intervention of the Chief Minister’s Office. When the name of the consulate came up in the case, Anil Nambiar called Swapna and inquired about the matter. It was a phone call Anil Nambiar made as part of his job as a journalist. We do not know the other things that are being spread by a section of the media now. When the controversy arose, Anil was asked for an explanation. He was told he could stay away as the channel was getting a bad name.
Is customs action only natural? Does the channel have any other doubts?
The channel will not save anyone if something goes wrong. But the current customs action cannot be seen as natural. There are reasons to suspect conspiracy in this. You will have to contact many people as part of the newsgathering. You have to talk to people, including criminals. How can journalists who are called upon to do their duty be held accountable in the cases in which they are involved?
Is Anil the only journalist who called Swapna Suresh? Many other reporters have called the accused, why not question them? The details of the ministers who were called several times have also come out. They are not questioned. It is only against Anil that the statement of the Swapna Suresh came out. Why Swapna Suresh’s statement about Sivashankar and others has not come out? Why the rumours about Minister Jalil and the Chief Minister’s wife going to Dubai have not come out?
Why such a move against the channel?
Janam TV is a channel that exposed various issues like Sprinkler, K Phone, Life Mission and Sabarimala. The channel also exposed CPM’s alliance with Muslim fundamentalists. The CPM is against Janam TV for all these reasons. The government is under severe pressure on gold smuggling case. They have to somehow divert the discussion.
The CPM has been trying to link up gold smuggling case with the BJP from the very beginning but was not been successful. They are also targeting it through Janam TV. The Chief Minister and CPM leaders have repeatedly demanded that Union Minister V Muraleedharan respond on the issue. The party leadership is forcing journalists from party newspapers and channels to raise the question at press conferences.
Officials affiliated with the CPM are behind the current move. I remember when the Chief Minister’s office was under suspicion, Aneesh Rajan, a customs officer, came to the rescue. We were the ones who brought out Aneesh’s CPM connection that day. He also works for a pro-CPM organization. The current move is being spearheaded by an official close to him. We have received the audio recording of this officer approaching the media for this. The challenge for the CPM faction is to ‘teach the channel a lesson’. We will approach the Central Government for suitable action.
What is the relationship of Janam Channel with BJP? Is this a party channel?
Janam TV is not a channel of any party or under their control. Is a public limited company. BJP activists have shares in the channel. But as a party, the BJP has no control or responsibility. This has been clearly stated by the state president K. Surendran. People are born with the goal of promoting cultural nationalism. People will support individuals and organizations that uphold this position. The BJP’s aim is similar. In that case, the BJP may be benefiting the channel politically. It’s natural. But Janam TV is not a channel run by the BJP like Kairali and Jai Hind that are run by the CPM and the Congress respectively. The party is not involved in deciding editorial policy or day-to-day operations.
Other media outlets should also understand that Anil Nambiar had called Swapna as part of his job. However, they are carrying out an organized attack on Janam TV.
We have been expecting this attack for some time. Those who attack Janam TV today would face the same attacks tomorrow. This is also a matter of media freedom. In any case, the attempt is to hunt down journalists. They do not understand it. A section of the media is trying to undermine the credibility of Janam TV. The main reason is the rating. Many of those who came up with big investments and claims are lagging behind Janam TV today. Earlier, Asianet held a discussion in prime time to disprove the news given by Janam TV.
It is not uncommon for one channel to discuss another channel’s news. It was MG Radhakrishnan (Asianet), CL Thomas (Media One) and Sreekandan Nair (24 News) who started propagating that Janam TV is against media. We are not against the media community. But we will always be in opposition to the media taking a stand against nationalism. We will not support those who work against the national interest. No one in Janam TV has been arrested for giving false news.
There is a lot of propaganda going on about things, including Janam TV’s share. What is the fact?
The CPM is propagating that Swapna Suresh has a stake. This is a lie. I can say that no anti-social elements have no share in Janam TV. This is because the shares are issued after studying the background of each individual. Only those of national interest were allowed to participate. It has 5300 shareholders. These range from mercenaries to IT professionals. There are also CPMs. The son of Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran is also a shareholder.
What is the change that Janam TV made in the field of media in Kerala?
The media in Kerala was controlled by the Left. The media was driven by the notion that what the Left was saying was right. News based on this position was generally given. There was a perception that anything would happen if some media thought. When a few acres of land belonging to a temple in Malappuram was illegally occupied by a media firm, there was not even a single media to point a finger at it. Most news channels adopted a non-hypocritical policy. That is not the case now. Gone are the days when the Hindu community was ignored in the media.
During the Sabarimala agitation, the mainstream media accused the protesters of being aggressors. As Janam TV stood with devotees, they had to change their stance. They too were compelled to call them devotees,.instead of aggressors. Even the Bhoomi Pooja in Ayodhya are being telecast live on the channel of Muslim fundamentalists. Harivarasana in Sabarimala is being shown live to everyone. In my opinion, all these changes have come after the Janam TV marked its presence among the mainstream media.
What would you tell the readers?
This channel is the sweat of the common man. Our inspiration is those who have fought for nationalism. The channel will move forward without giving up ideals and honesty. That is why Anil withdrew when an allegation was raised. Can the CPM replace the Chief Minister and Jalil like this? Challenges them in this regard. And does not intend to succumb to organized attack. The channel will go ahead with force by exposing the anti-nationals.
Discussion about this post