We strongly condemn the reprehensible manner in which the so-called 'sting operation' against renowned peace and anti-nuclear activist, Dr. S P Udayakumar and his family including his aged parents, wife, and school-going son, has been carried out by Republic TV's reporters.

Through this entire pathetic drama, Arnab Goswami has exposed himself as a gutless and desperate agent of the ruling dispensation, masquerading as a journalist. The nauseatingly sensationalized video being played repeatedly on his television channel, exposes its own lies and vacuousness, as Dr. Udayakumar can be clearly seen denying any request for accepting foreign contributions. He cites the repression unleashed by the government against his principled activism, including his association with the Koodankulam struggle, which is acknowledged as amongst the most long-standing and non-violent and peaceful grassroots peoples’ movement in recent years. In the channel's own video, Dr. Udayakumar is seen saying that anyone can contribute to the 'Green Tamils' party with proper receipts.

This episode marks a new low even for Arnab Goswami’s own abysmal ‘journalistic’ standards.

People's movements and genuine issues related to the daily lives of common people find little space in the media. In place of exposing the Modi government that has failed on all fronts in the past three years, the media is busy ‘exposing’ activists, opposition leaders and inconvenient voices. Entirely false allegations are being raked up and the slightest problems with those opposing this virulent Hindutva ideology and crony regime, are being amplified.

We demand that the Press Council of India put a strict check on such malicious designs. We also request the Editors' Guild and other media organisations to condemn, isolate and discourage such unacceptable attempts of targeted witch-hunts.

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