Journalists are not peace activists -- is like saying Smoking is injurious to health and also like saying -Honesty is the best policy.
Often in practical lives -- we find 'smoking' is pleasure and stress-buster. In our days in West Bengal and in northeastern states --- smoking was first sign of rebellion. First signs of growing beard.
It was like saying - "so what if we smoke". In later years. we discovered Dishonesty too is a good policy and perhaps often the best.
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| Blogger and 'one' gem, mentor and a 'value-based' journalist R C Rajamani |
Siddique Kappan is also a journalist.
In September 2025, he was among the 11 booked for organising unlawful assembly against the arrest of Maoist sympathiser Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek in a UAPA case. This happened in Kerala and not Yogi Adityanath's Uttar Pradesh.
The accused had reportedly gathered at Ernakulum Vanchi Square, close to the High Court Junction, to organise a 'Comrade Rejaz Solidarity Gathering' condemning the arrest of Maoist sympathiser Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek.
Rejaz faced charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for condemning Operation Sindoor carried out by the Indian Armed Forces against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. They reportedly obtained permission from the Kochi Corporation to hold the event, but did not secure mandatory police approval for the use of loudspeakers.
Well, in 2022 and 2023. It was altogether a different chapter.
In 2023 February after his 'release'; one western media outlet lovingly reported -
"Indian journalist Siddique Kappan has been released from prison more than two years after his arrest while travelling to report on an alleged rape".
Yes; you have guessed it tight. It was the card called 'victimhood'.
Kappan also played up his voice power and remarked - "I will also continue to do journalism. I will not sit idle".
Take a pause - we must admit even the law enforcing agencies do their job and cannot afford to "sit idle".
Now take Delhi explosion of Nov 10th - the immediate reaction from Sickular gang and the ecosystem - what was Amit Shah doing.
After a few days - one newspaper office was raided in Jammu and the press freedom was again threatened.
So where do we go from here ?
Kappan and his companions were alleged to be members of the Popular Front of India (PFI), a Kerala-based radical Muslim group that was banned in 2022 for links with terror groups.
In February 2021, the Enforcement Directorate while investigating "financial crimes" anglehad filed a case against Kappan under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The agency said Kappan received money from PFI to "incite riots".
Of course, he and his lawyers have always denied such charges.
In 2022, it was also alleged that the chargesheet against Kappan showed a prima facie case under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, UAPA and Information Technology Act.
The UP government "revealed" that Kappan maintained a deep nexus with PFI and its chapters Campus Front of India (CFI), and its top leadership, in particular P Koya, ex-SIMI member, PFI executive member, and editor-in-chief of Thejas.
So, while we debate and discuss 'press freedom'; we need to check into these episodes of the past too.
The emergence of 'white collared' terrorism is a dangerous trend. Interestingly, not many western media outlets are yet ready to highlight or take a closer look at that angle.
One argument is very simple - such a thing will not suit anto-Hindutva and anti-Modi narratives.
But the Govt of India must not give into usual pressures - "Lok kya kahenge (what will people say)".
Let the investigation be over is the best option. Nine years back in 2016; 'Th Guardian' in London published an article and it ran:
"How can we preserve freedom of expression when societies are under attack from terrorism?
Following the ISIS attacks, heightened security in European capitals has made it more difficult to preserve our hard-won rights and freedoms.
While we want to be safe, we also want to retain our rights to personal privacy and to free expression. If we sacrifice those rights within our liberal democracies then the terrorists will have secured a victory of sorts. Indeed, the likelihood is that a more authoritarian society will engender increased recruitment to terrorist groups. So what can be done?"
** Most of these points if not all .. apply to today's India of 2025 especially after Nov 10 explosion in Delhi.
More serious allegations surfaced against Kappan. In 2025, arms have been recovered from the newspaper office in Jammu -which is supposed to be closed for last four years.
But, the bigger debate is the need to analyse various reasons for the emergence ofWhite Collared people and also professionals such as trained doctors and that too women and their involvement in terrorism.
"Some issues are simple .... an educated guy once indoctrinated is quite difficult to reason and he/she won't back out easily," says a retired military officer.
My concern is also is to ensure that we journalists should be able to carry out our role with the greatest possible freedom so that the media can continue to inform the public.
But when it comes to 'national security' and global peace - the best option is to trust the official probe agencies and the judicial system.
ends
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