In the last few months, almost every journalist has become familiar with KB Koliwad, Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The familiarity began in March this year, when Koliwad famously announced that he was forming a House committee to frame rules and regulations for electronic media — a “Lakshman Rekha”, he called it, to restrict the “arbitrary” telecasting of news. Koliwad said this came after MLAs across parties complained about the media’s “irresponsible” reporting, particularly by news channels. As senior MLA BR Patil of the Karnataka Janata Paksha had said, the media was performing the roles of “petitioner, advocate and judge” and was, without evidence, “projecting politicians in a poor light and disrespecting us.”

Now, four months later, Koliwad and the Karnataka Legislative Assembly have been in the news for redrawing this Lakshman Rekha more clearly. So clearly, in fact, that the House unanimously sentenced two local journalists, the well-known Ravi Belagere of Hi Bangalore, and Anil Raju of Yelahanka Voice to a full year in jail on 21st June. Along with the jail term, they were fined Rs 10,000 each — Koliwad announced that if the fine wasn’t paid, they would have to spend another six months in jail. As of 28th June, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah instructed the home department to not arrest Belagere for now, as he is “suffering from ailments”.