CPI(M) condemns arrest of journalists

Mangalore, Mar 5 (UNI) The CPI(M) in Karnataka today strongly condemned the arrest of eveninger 'Karavali Ale' President B V Seetaram and his wife and Managing Director Rohini on the charge of penning defamatory articles on Jain Digambar Munis.

Addresssing newspersons here, party State Secretary G N Nagaraj said the arrest was nothing, but an ''attack on the freedom of press and individual freedom.'' The arrest was to gag the voice against communalism and fundamentalism and it was effected by the district Superintendent of Police purely out of vengeance, he alleged.

The media had the right to criticise the ''wrong policies and principles'' of religion and it should not be curbed, he said, adding that the party would organise a protest rally in front of the BJP State unit office in Bangalore soon and launch a Statewide agitation against the police action of curbing the freedom of Press.

Meanwhile, the Udupi District Working Journalists Union condemned the arrest in a meeting held in Udupi, terming it as ''totally politically motivated and intended to suppress the freedom of the Press''.

UNI