Siddique Kappan after his release: 'In India, journalism and democracy are imperilled'

Press freedom in the country is in a perilous state journalist Siddique Kappan who walked out of Lucknow jail in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday saidReleased after a long incarceration of about 800 days the journalist did not mince words ldquoDemocracy and journalism are in dangerous situationsrdquo he said Although Kappan secured bail in December last year procedural delays deferred his releaseIn an exclusive conversation with midday an ecstatic Kappan termed his release ldquohalfbaked justicerdquo He said 23 people are still in jail and he has to keep up the fight for their releaseKappan a Keralabased journalist was arrested in October 2020 along with three others while they were on their way to Uttar Pradeshrsquos Hathras to report on a gang rape and murder incidentA First Information Report filed against Kappan in Mathura charged him under sections 153A promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion etc Section 124A sedition and 295A deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs of the Indian Penal Code IPC and the Information Technology Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPATerming UAPA a ldquodraconian lawrdquo Kappan said that he will continue to fight against such laws ldquoMuslims Dalits and many other people are in jails under the UAPA law We will continue our fight against the UAPA and other draconian laws including AFSPA and National Security Act NSArdquo he saidHe said the UAPA Enforcement Directorate and other central agencies are being used as ldquopolitical toolsrdquo by the government against the opposition and journalistslsquoStruggle in jailrsquoOn his time inside the prison Kappan said that his time in jail was a lsquostrugglersquo ldquoI struggled all through my time in the jail It was really hardrdquoKappan also contracted Covid19 inside the jail He said that neither the covid19 protocols were followed nor was he provided with a proper treatmentHe alleged that he was also barred from reading certain literature ldquoThe jail authorities did not allow me to read certain books For example he said Aakar Patelrsquos former executive director of Amnesty International India book was not allowed Books on politics and contemporary political issues were also not allowed Initially he said the jail authorities also did not allow a diary pen and other religious texts However the same was provided after a lot of scrutinylsquoWant to visit motherrsquos graversquoIn June 2021 while Kappan was in the jail his mother passed away Kappan said he cannot wait to pay obeisance at his motherrsquos grave in Kerala his home state Kappan was allowed to visit his ailing mother briefly in February 2021 after the Supreme Court granted him bail for five daysAccording to the supreme court order Kappan will have to stay in Delhi for six weeks After that he said I will pay a visit to my mothers graveThanking his friends activists and journalists for standing for him Kappan said his family including his children had to struggle in his absence ldquoOn social media fascist groups harassed my children and family Even my dead mother was abusedrdquo he saidKappan said he will continue to pursue his career in journalismldquoFreedom of the press is crucialrdquo he said ldquoJournalists are not the Public Relation Officers of the government he concluded