P.C. Vishnunadh, Kerala’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, said on Thursday that the state government would take sincere measures to secure justice for journalist K.M. Basheer, who died in a road accident in Thiruvananthapuram in 2019. He spoke at a memorial meeting for Basheer held at the Malappuram Press Club.
Vishnunadh said he had raised the matter in the Legislative Assembly on Basheer’s second death anniversary and pledged government support for any legal proceedings. He recalled knowing Basheer from their KSU days and described him as a principled journalist with a gentle manner.
During the event, the minister warned that press freedom in the country is declining. He noted that while media still have the opportunity to present facts to the public, competition among outlets can affect news coverage and calls for discussion.
The session included a seminar on ‘Social conscience and media ethics’ attended by MLAs Kurukkoli Moideen and V.S. Joy, Waqf Board Chairman K.S. Hamza, Kerala Muslim Jamaat State general secretary Syed Ibrahim Khaleel Bukhari, and others. Kerala Union of Working Journalists State general secretary Suresh Edappal and Malappuram Press Club secretary V.P. Nisar were also present.
