“Govt is Getting Scared of Media,” Says Cartoonist R Bala on FIR
The cartoonist was slapped with an FIR for a cartoon depicting the government’s role in the death of a motorist.
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Cartoonist R Bala and six other journalists were slapped with an FIR on Tuesday for protesting against the cartoonist’s arrest earlier this month for a caricature depicting the current state of the government.
Speaking with The Quint, Bala spoke about his future as a journalist and how he does not fear the government for the FIRs being filed against him.
The Chennai Police FIR has noted the names of Press Club office bearers for "erecting banners and causing inconvenience for the public" during the agitation. They had erected a giant banner of Bala's controversial cartoon to protest his arrest. But the contention from journalists was that the office building was well away from the main road and the banner was inside the premises which clearly rules out any kind of disturbance to the public.
Jounralists gathered at the Chennai Press Club to protest against the FIR filed and demanded that the police withdraw the complaint.
‘This is not a case against Cartoonist Bala. It's the way the State is trying to curb the freedom of the Press and we won’t let that happen,’ said Haseef, Senior Journalist of News 18.
Just a few hours after the police complaint had been filed, cartoonist Bala hit back with his latest cartoon about the FIR and the killing of Ragu demanding answers from the Chief Minister Edapadi Palanisamy.
31-year-old engineer from the US, Ragu reportedly died after he rammed into an illegal wooden arch erected by AIADMK party men for the MGR Centenary celebrations. 'Who Killed Ragu?' were seen painted on the road at the spot of the accident.
Chennai journalists assured that they will not take this lying down and fight together as a community.
Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
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