New Delhi: The President of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), Jayant Mammen Mathew, on behalf of the entire community of INS Members, strongly condemns the arrest of Nakkeeran Gopal, editor and publisher of Nakkeeran magazine, purportedly because of the publication of an article that the office of the Governor of Tamil Nadu deemed objectionable. His arrest under Section 124 of the IPC was totally unwarranted, and, prima facie an abuse of the process of law.

The decision of the Government of Tamil Nadu to invoke this Section militates against the authority granted to it under law. Constitutional authorities must exercise restraint and respect the freedom of the Press.

The Society appeals to the President of India to intervene urgently in this matter to rein in gubernatorial excess. It also demands the immediate withdrawal of the case against Gopal and his colleagues.