An online petition seeking action again fake news reporting regarding the Sabarimala temple has been started by advocate and BJP leader Sanku Thulasi Das. It has been taken up by common Keralites who had reposted it more than 10,000 times by October 6. The petition wants the Information & Broadcasting (I&B) ministry to take action against 24 News channel and its Kochi bureau senior reporter Sahin Antony.
24 News broadcast the fake news on December 10, 2018 at the peak of the ‘destroy Sabarimala’ period, and communists and other anti-Hindu communal forces were trying hard to distort the traditions and rituals of the temple. Sahin Antony displayed fake copper plates that he claimed were 400-years old and purportedly issued by the Pandalam Palace, the original owners of the temple.
Sahin said that the artifact was from the Malayalam year 843 (1668 CE), was written in the old Malayalam Script and that it had the Pandalam emblem. He claimed that only Ezhavas and the tribal Malayaraya community had the right to worship and perform the rituals at the Sabarimala temple and that Brahmin priests have no rights there.
This was done to sow discord and disharmony in the Hindu society at the behest of his handlers. The intention was to cast aspersions on the “dubious manner” in which the Thazhman Matham, the Tantri family responsible for the rituals at the temple, came to hold such a prestigious position.
Like vultures, other news channels swarmed in and conducted live debates where ‘Brahminical hegemony’ was thrashed and ‘invasions’ by Brahmins into the temple were discussed. These created divisions based on caste in the broader Hindu community since many communist-leaning Hindus fell for the trap.
Sahin used a fake decree that belonged to the private collection of a fraudster named Monson Mavunkal, knowing fully well the grave social ramifications of such fake news. They conspired to create fault lines within the Hindu community. These dark forces underestimated Hindu unity that struggled hard but ultimately protected the customs and traditions at the temple, for now.
Sahin is close to both Monson and others in Kerala’s political circles. Victims duped by Monson revealed that Sahin introduced them to Monson. Sahin allegedly acted as a middleman in dealings between celebrities, top officials and played the role of mediator in deals.
It is alleged that based on Sahin’s request and with his knowledge and assistance, others conspired to manufacture the fake royal decree in collusion with Monson. Multiple complaints were raised by various individuals and organizations, but no police action has been initiated as yet.
The petition says that the channel did not show the maturity and prudence that is expected of a responsible media outlet. “At worst, the channel is guilty of a grievous crime if they created a news story cognizant of the fact that they were airing suspicious or fake content,” it added.
They have petitioned Anurag Thakur, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Hope now pins on the BJP leader to take prompt action against all the accused, including the real conspirators. The history of the central I&B ministry thus far has been disappointing when it comes to dealing with fake news peddlers and anti-Hindu propagandists in media.
A light rebuke was all that MediaOne & Asianet News channels got even after they aired fake news of mosques being demolished during the heat of the Shaheen Bagh protests.
All secular minds who are interested in taking up this Hindu cause can do so by using the link mentioned below. A prefilled detailed complaint awaits all righteous Hindus to stand up for their rights. Just click and send after filling in your name and phone number.
