'Grainy Screen For Hours, Channel Moved From 44th Spot To 61st': Is Vijay Stifling Press? Minister Calls It 'Technical Glitch'

Chennai: A major broadcast disruption affecting Puthiya Thalaimurai, one of Tamil Nadu’s independent Tamil news channels aired on the state government-controlled Arasu Cable TV Corporation on May 28 (Thursday), sparked widespread concern among viewers, journalists and civil society groups. Many questioned whether the disruption was a deliberate attempt by the Vijay-led state government to suppress a news channel reputed for its objective reporting and editorial independence.

What Happened On Thursday Afternoon?

At 2 PM on May 28 (Thursday), viewers across several parts of Tamil Nadu faced difficulty accessing Puthiya Thalaimurai, as television and multimedia screens carruing the channel reportedly turned grainy, having poor reception and audio quality. 

Around the same time, several complaints started puring into the headquarters of the channel which stated that Puthiya Thalaimurai, which had earlier been available at the 44th position on the Arasu Cable network, had been shifted to the 61st position. However, soon after public outcry, it was restored to its original 44th position by around 9 PM on Thursday. The broadcast also got restored gradually and was fully restored by Friday.

What The Tamil Nadu Minister Said

Responding to the complaints, Tamil Nadu School Education Minister and Minister for Information and Publicity A Rajmohan denied any role by the state authorities of deliberate blackout of the channel on Arasu Cable network, putting all the blame on “technical issues”.

Asserting that the channel had not been taken off air, Rajmohan said “nothing of that sort happened,” however acknowledging that in “some places it was pushed back.” He informed that “technical glitches were immediately investigated and everything has been corrected.”

“In Arasu cable TV, the Puthiya Thalaimurai channel was not disabled. Due to a technical issue, it was only pushed back. They fixed it in two hours. Do not approach ordinary matters with a negative mindset,” he reportedly said.

Minister A Rajmohan acknowdged that “constructive crticism” is necessary for every government, asserting that "media is a key pillar of democracy.” He informed that the glitches have been fixed and the channel can now be accessed even at this own office. He further assured that he is ready to address any such concerns in future directly.

No Media Interations With CM Vijay In Delhi

The episode took place day after Puthiya Thalaimurai aired reports which questioned the absence of any formal media interactions by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay during his visit to the national capital as well as other official occasions. The reports also brought to light concerns regarding transparency in his governance and mentioned that chief ministers are known to brief the press after any crucial meetings with the Prime Minister and other dignitaries in the national capital.

How AIADMK Responded

AIADMK condemned the incident, accusing the ruling TVK government of following “DMK-model” authoritarianism. The Opposition party in Tamil Nadu also cited cases against social media users, attempts to block accounts of Opposition leaders, and arrests of critics - all aimed at stiffling dissent. The party also warned that such steps undermine the state's democratic principles.

What Puthiya Thalaimurai Said

Puthiya Thalaimurai which has faced several such disruptions under different political regimes in Tamil Nadu issued a stern statement reiterating “its commitment to fearless and objective journalism, and continue to uphold the highest standards of independent reporting despite challenges.” 

"Puthiya Thalaimurai has always stood firmly for credible, people-centric and objective journalism. Attempts to obstruct or intimidate us, irrespective of where they come from, will not weaken our resolve. We will continue to report with courage, integrity and responsibility, and will never bend or back down from our journalistic principles,” the organisation said.

Journalist bodies, including the Chennai Press Club, have also also raised concerns over whether this disruption on Thursday was a deliberate attempt to target critical journalism and stifle dissent.

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