‘The Telegraph’ republish the denigrating cartoon of Sri Shankaracharya

On the New Year day this year,’The Telegraph’ of Calcutta published a cartoon denigrating the Shankaracharya of Kanchi H.H. Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji. Shri.V. Krishnan sixty-six years plus filed a complaint with the Press Council of India at Delhi and pursued it vigorously. The Council held a hearing on this August 22, 2006. Shri. Krishnan was present while Telegraph was not represented by any one. (See the cartoon)

The Chairman of the PCI found merit in his complaint. Honourable Press Council of India found merit in his complaint and the Telegraph guilty of hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus. The Inquiry Committee advised the respondent newspaper, The Telegraph in particular and the press in general to observe greater restraint and caution in publishing such news/photography/cartoon which may hurt the religious sentiments of any community. With the above observations the Inquiry Committee recommended to the Council to drop further proceedings in the matter.

Mr. Krishnan was not satisfied with the decision for following reasons

1. PCI has only advised (Did not give copy of the advice so that he could know now what has been advised) Telegraph to use greater restraint. The Telegraph obviously has not been censured nor has been told to publish an �apology� despite the Council having found it guilty of hurting the religious sentiments of the larger sections of the Hindus.

2. The Telegraph did not in the first instance care to respond to the notice issued by the Council. It was only on a second communication they sent a reply for which he had suitably given a rejoinder. In fact they just returned his complaint without even bothering to reply, thereby revealing an implied challenge! The records are there to prove these. Further, The Telegraph did not bother to be represented before the Council on the date of the hearing on August 22, 2006. Shri. Krishnana being a heart and Chronic H.T patients was present for the whole day and his matter came up only in the last though it was serialized earlier.

3. Even the paper further carried the same cartoon on its web page.

‘Shri. Krishnan pointing out the above facts in further representation has asked ‘How a mere advice to the paper to use greater restraint,a proper dispensation of justice? He further adds that. I am a strong believer in, and advocator of, the Freedom of the Press and have greatest admiration for the work that PCI does. It is because of that during the last year I had complained in support of a Journalist Shri Gurumurthi, Columnist in the Indian Express against the TN police who were harassing him for his writings in the paper. In the same vein I complained against Telegraph. Even though Telegraph has been found guilty, I am really surprised at the lenient treatment given out to them. What else I can do? Will not people lose faith in PCI?’

A heart-patient with the threat of heart-attack and stroke looming large on his head Mr. Krishnan, still by God’s grace does manage to fight single handedly for Dharma and do other activities.

(This is an inspiration for Hindus that where there is a will there is a way out. Today when the younger generation is busy watching cricket, other games and in entertainment, elderly and person battling for health showing them the way. What can be more shameful then this? Hindus wake up and remember your duty towards your religion – Editor)