Writer-journalist T.C. Rajesh Sindhu clarified his position regarding an unpublished feature meant for a weekly supplement, supporting CPI(M) state secretariat member M. Swaraj’s view that the decision to publish or reject an article lies with the newspaper’s editorial board. The controversy arose when the weekly supplement was not released on Sunday, sparking rumors that Rajesh’s piece on “Kallan Vijayan” led to its non-publication. Instead, the supplement featured an article on V.S. Achuthanandan, omitting Rajesh’s contribution.
Rajesh, in a Facebook post, acknowledged his error, leading to public discussion, while Swaraj mentioned that he had not reviewed the article. Rajesh, in a detailed Facebook update, explained his stance, emphasizing that he never insisted on the article’s publication by the newspaper. He highlighted that rejection, editing, and rewriting were standard editorial practices in media, drawing from his extensive journalism experience.
Reflecting on his journalistic journey, Rajesh mentioned that rejection of articles was common, citing instances of editorial decisions throughout his career. He disclosed that he had penned the feature following encouragement from the editorial team, after revisiting Muthippara and interviewing Vijayan. Despite submitting the article with photos for publication, he learned from a friend that the supplement was allegedly withheld due to his piece, prompting his Facebook post.
Rajesh also criticized certain media outlets for selectively quoting his statements, omitting his support for Swaraj’s stance, which he claimed distorted the narrative. He expressed disbelief at the incomplete portrayal of his position and suggested alternative ways to address any issues, questioning the intent behind the misleading reports.
