A press conference convened by Agriculture Minister T Siddique in the media room of the Kerala Assembly witnessed strong protests from journalists over the presence of Agriculture Department Director Sriram Venkitaraman. Journalists objected to Venkitaraman participating in the press conference alongside the minister, citing his status as an accused in the case related to the death of journalist K M Basheer, who was killed after being hit by a car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman.
Journalists' Firm Stand
Taking a firm stand, media personnel declared that they would not allow the press conference to proceed with Venkitaraman seated alongside the minister. The journalists demanded that the minister should not share the dais with an individual accused in the death case. The press conference had initially begun with only Minister Siddique in attendance. Venkitaraman arrived while the briefing was in progress, triggering immediate protests from journalists.
Minister's Initial Refusal
The minister did not initially agree to requests that Venkitaraman leave the press conference. However, as the protest intensified, Venkitaraman voluntarily exited the media room, allowing the briefing to continue. The media fraternity has consistently raised concerns over Venkitaraman's public appearances since the 2019 road accident that claimed the life of Basheer, then Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of the Malayalam daily Siraj.
Background of the Case
Venkitaraman is the accused in the case, and the trial for it is all set to begin on August 1. The incident has reignited debates about the appropriateness of public officials facing serious charges participating in official events.
