The Editors Guild of India had demanded the withdrawal of the FIR filed by the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh police against journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai, Mrinal Pandey and Zafar Aga. “We condemn this threatening move in which UP and MP police have lodged an FIR against senior journalists for reporting on a farmers’ protest in Delhi on January 8,” the Editors Guild said. The Editors Guild views the FIR as an attack on free media.
Why is the media silent ? : Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had openly defended Rajdeep Sardesai in the incident. “Why is the media quiet?” He asked. What is all this going on? In our democratic system we must unhesitatingly raise our voice. The media is the fourth pillar of our democracy. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and six journalists were charged with treason by the police.
The Guild alleged that journalists were being wrongly targeted in the incident. The UP government should withdraw this FIR immediately. The courts should also take note of such incidents so that journalists are not repeatedly charged with such serious offenses as treason and their freedom of speech and writing is not trampled on.
