KM Replies to allegations of criminal record Editor KM Why our journalists support the poor? We have a criminal background? Here is the Answer Dear Members of the Indian Community in the Gulf. Keralamonitor.com is supported by people who have deep concern for ordinary parents of Indian schools in the Gulf. Unlike many big people and rich businessmen who forget their past, we feel proud of what the portal has been doing for the common folks. We dont encourage or support any board member or school committee member who come to school fully drunk.
There are many philanthropists who become social workers in front of TV cameras and journalists. They cannot digest the fact there are sincere people in this world who will not succumb to pressure tactics. Naturally such people are victims of concerted misinformation campaigns and harassment. What newmonitor.com and the "social workers behind it" are targetting is our full time career in the Gulf . They may succeed in this conspiracy, which was started two years back but journalists associated with KM will never give up fighting for the victims of fraud perpetrated by influencial people. Why our journalists support the poor and weak? We come from the same background. Source : a leading Malayalam Newspaper (February 20, 1989). What is the background for all this? asks new KM. The answer is the above link.
The above report appeared almost 13 years back. Now he is a journalist in Muscat. All the problems there started with a few stories on corruption and mismanagement of Indian Schools. Everybody knows what happened in the school scenario there because of these reports. All the big businessmen were removed and new board and committees are formed. The story is known to everybody and needs no further explanation. The story of the Indian school in Seeb is equally familiar to everybody. Instead of one Kerala businessman making money in the name of community service, parents can now send their children to get quality education from the Seeb School at RO 17 per month, compared to RO 40 in the neighbouring school. Influencial people could shut the mouth of journalists through various methods. KM has been the only medium through which they could express their problems.
Should our journalists forget their past, wine and dine with the rich and powerful people and praise them for their "good deeds". The story of "police interrogation" was not related to our journalist committing any crime, but only to prevent them from writing about Indian schools. "Better keep away from these things," is the message. The rich people call the shots everywhere! A journalist was called twice to the police headquarters for interrogation. Even now he doesnt know what is his crime? "These people are very powerful not only here but in India too. They can hurt you and your family back home very badly," was the main piece of advise. "Stop writing this nonsense". "Dont tell anybody that we called you for this purpose," was the last piece of advise! This is nothing new to our journalists, as we have been receiving such messages ever since we started the portal. (See the detailed interview in Thursday Magazine)
"The readers and community would like to know why such things have happened. Why Police should interrogate Mr. V M Sathish unless he has breached the laws and committed crimes, asks newmonitor.com in its report. That is what we at KM also dont understand? Give us an answer, if you have. Our only crime is that the portal has reported about the financial mismanagement in Indian schools which really hurt the "influencial people" with vested interests. Another crime is to oppose a covert campaign aginst a sincere diplomat who has been at the receiving end of a hate campaign by some influencial people . "On whose behest we are writing..asks new monitor.com. Here is the answer. "I told the Minister that KM is moderated by so and so ....Please take note of that." threatened another board member who has been unhappy about KM reports.
Here is the Answer Dear newmonitor.com friends, Members of the Indian Community in the Gulf.
Their hate campaign against an Indian Ambassador in the Gulf was exposed through keralamonitor.com. The only fault of the Indian Ambassador is that he had asked schools to reduce exhorbitantly high fees! And the reward is "Indian Ambassador denied promotion...Watch out for our most important news from New Delhi.." as reported by the New KM. Anybody can guess what will be the next news...Transfer or Demotion?? If the journalists who created the school trouble, the Indian Ambassador and other sincere people are out of the way, then the ground is clear for continuing the same old public looting in the name of community service. So we guess the next "scoop" in new KM going to be something like this " KM Journalist sacked for illegal activities"? "Put behind bars for committing crime"? If you think that journalists are mere slaves of influencial businessmen and rich people, it is a mistake. You cannot classify all of us in the same category. . Influencial people may know the ministers, undersecretaries and the police top brass. KM doesnt have any high level influence or financial muscle power to match you! It is the Holy Month of Ramadhan and in the name of Allah the God Almighty we are prepared to face any punishment for helping the needy and poor through this humble portal!
Interview with in Thursday Magazine dated October 10-16, 2002. 
