Reacting strongly to the torrential abuse heaped on popular Asianet  anchor Sindhu Sooryakumar after she debated sedition and the Goddess Durga and Mahishashura controversy, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has asked the police to bring such ‘saffronized’ culprits to book without further delay.

On Friday, Asianet News Chief Coordinating Editor Sindhu Sooryakumar had moderated a discussion on News Hour on whether celebrating Mahishashura Jayanthi could be considered an act of treason.

The said debate was held in the backdrop of Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani producing copies of pamphlets allegedly circulated in the JNU campus in Parliament.

As the anchor of the show, Sindhu had posed this query to a panel comprising Congress MP Anto Antony, CPI(M) MP MB Rajesh and Kerala BJP spokesperson VV Rajesh.

After the show, rumours were rampantly spread on social media that Sindhu had found no fault with Durga being termed a sex-worker. The alleged messages on Whatsapp and Facebook reportedly circulated Sindhu’s mobile number too.

Sindhu Sooryakumar

Kodiyeri reiterated that the Sangh Parivar had embarked on a concerted witch-hunt of all independent-minded journalists who did not toe the Hindutva line, claiming this was the beginning of a very dangerous despotic trend in a functional democracy.

Sindhu continues to be subject to vile, sexual and even death threats on her mobile and through the social media. She filed a complaint with the Thiruvanathapuram Commissioner of Police and sent copies of the same to all prominent political leaders in the state. The BJP in Kerala is yet to make its official stance clear on the issue.

Read Sindhu Sooryakumar's interiew here.