Vivek Jayaraman, the current CEO of Jaya TV and nephew of Sasikala, has condemned government run Arasu cable for allegedly blocking his news channel Jaya Plus. He has also claimed that this move has consequentially limited the reach of Jaya Plus’s coverage of the ongoing hunger strike for Cauvery Water Managament Board, headed by TTV Dhinakaran.
Leader of the newly launched party, Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam, Dhinakaran has begun a hunger strike in Thanjavur on Sunday, demanding the speedy constitution of the Board. The day-long fast has been organised in Thilagar Thidal in Thanjavur to press the centre into action.
The Supreme Court, on February 16 announced the constitution of Cauvery Management Board after a long-drawn battle between the States. Since the verdict, both the States have raised concern over the constitution of the board.
Regarding the blocking of Jaya Plus, Vivek tweeted that the event is being organised for the farmers of Tamil Nadu and by limiting the reach of its coverage, justice is being denied to them.
Jaya Plus has been blocked in Arasu Cable through out TN. It’s a cheap gesture done by Arasu Cable MD under EPS govt. Today’s fast event is for our TN farmers. It’s reach has been blocked. How else can justice be bought to our people?
— Vivek Jayaraman (@vivekjayarman) March 25, 2018
Apsara Reddy, TTV Dhinakaran supporter, also tweeted that the move is a gag on media and free press.
The incapable TN government blocks the very popular News Network Jaya Plus on Arasu Cable the government wing of distributing favoured channels. Attack on media and gagging the press is a grave danger. The LIVE... https://t.co/j6K0VhjDev
— Apsara R (@ApsaraReddy) March 25, 2018
However, source close to development informed TNM that Jaya Plus has been downgraded to a lower quality bandwidth (UHF) in the state-run cable network.
Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation was incorporated in 2007 by then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who allegedly wanted to break the dominance of the Maran brothers in the cable business.
Later chief minister J Jayalalithaa later revived the network in 2011 after she assumed office and even made the Sun group channels (headed by Kala Nithi Maran) unavailable on the Arasu cable network for a brief period.
Disqualified AIADMK MLA Vetrivel has also condemned the downgrading of the channel, calling it political vendetta and heights of atrocity. He also added that this dishonours the memory of Late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
This is not the first time that Jaya TV has been under the scanner since the demise of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The channel, rebranded from JJ TV to Jaya TV by Jayalalithaa herself in 1999, is regarded as the mouthpiece of AIADMK party.
The channel which was incorporated in 1995 soon folded in 1996 when Jayalalithaa left office. It was also raided by IT officials between 1996-1997 in relation to the disproportionate assets case.
In November 2017, IT raids on Jaya TV brought into focus the properties now owned and controlled by ‘ousted’ AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala’s family and associates. The raids took place at over 180 locations across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, including in offices of Jaya TV, and Namadhu MGR.