Sri Lanka, July 15 -- When Imtiaz Bakeer Markar, the SJB candidate berates two television channels for being lackeys of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, he's being a fascist. He pats himself on the back for being tolerant, but he is miserably failing to uphold the values of free speech.

The incident happened at a press meet of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) recently where two reporters of television stations that the SJB loves to hate asked Bakeer Markar a simple question, which was 'doesn't Karuna Amman have a right to run for office and engage in mainstream politics?'

Bakeer Markar is seen going on a tirade from his bully pulpit over the question, because he has the benefit of the platform and the m...