Journalist bodies call raids attempt to ‘muzzle’ the press
New Delhi: Various organisations, including the Editors Guild of India, condemned the Delhi Police raids on news portal NewsClick and its scribes on Tuesday, with some claiming that it was an attempt to “muzzle” the press.
The Editors Guild of India (EGI) issued a statement saying it was deeply concerned about the raids at the residences of senior journalists early this morning. These raids are yet another attempt to “muzzle the media”, it said.
“We remind the government of the importance of an independent media in a functioning democracy, and urge it to ensure that the fourth pillar is respected, nurtured and protected,” the guild said.
“While we recognise that the law must take its course if actual offences are involved, the due process has to be followed. The investigation of specific offences must not create a general atmosphere of intimidation under the shadow of draconian laws, or impinge on the freedom of expression and the raising of dissenting and critical voices,” it added.
Through a post on ‘X’, the Press Club of India said it was deeply concerned about the raids. “We are monitoring the developments and will be releasing a detailed statement. The PCI stands in solidarity with the journalists and demands the government to come out with details,” it said.
A spontaneous protest meeting was held at the Press Club of India here against the police action. The meeting resolved to continue the protest to defend media freedom.
The Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) demanded that “this harassment” of the media by government agencies should stop.
“A vibrant democracy will never remain vibrant if the media is not given the space to analyse government policies independently. Elected democracies have a greater responsibility to ensure that the media operates in an unfettered manner,” it said in a statement.
The IWPC said the manner in which sections of the media are being repeatedly targeted because they have raised concerns about certain policies of the government reflects very poorly on a government representing the world’s largest democracy.
The Mumbai Press Club also expressed “deep concern”. “The Mumbai Press Club urges for an unbiased investigation and calls upon the Delhi Police to desist from what is perceived as a targeted harassment campaign against these journalists,” it said on ‘X’.
Expressing concerns over the police action on the journalists of the news portal, the DIGIPUB News India Foundation said, “They have been detained, their phones and laptops seized. This is another instance of the government’s pattern of arbitrary and intimidatory behaviour. We are keeping an eye on developments.”
In a separate statement, the National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi unit) condemned the police raids.
It said the residences of Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Teesta Setalvad, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, Mahesh Kumar, Subodh Varma, Aditi Nigam, Mukund Jha and many others were raided this morning. The statement claimed that several of the media persons were also taken into custody.
“We believe that this is yet another attempt by the Centre to muzzle the freedom of press. Such an action, raiding and intimidating almost all the employees in a media organisation is unheard of,” it said.
The Newsclick management, the statement noted, has been maintaining that whatever funding they have received was through legal sources and evidence for this has been submitted to the Delhi High Court.
“These new raids are to divert public attention from burning livelihood issues of people ... We condemn this with the strongest possible words. We will stand with these journalists in this matter. We urge the Centre to immediately stop this attack on press freedom...,” it said.
