The DUJ had, in its statement, recalled with pride the huge contribution made by women journalists to the freedom of speech and expression. Many women have struggled to enter our challenging profession and make a space for themselves within it. They have made great strides in the news business, handling every beat, entering every field, ranging from politics to business to sports. They have fought social prejudice to work odd hours, do night shifts, travel to distant places, risk their own safety to chase a story. Television and social media have made women reporters very visible and they are no longer treated as exceptions.

“Most journalists tend to be opinionated, informed, independent thinkers — traits that go with the territory.  However both women and men in the profession are under increasing pressure to conform, to write and report according to the diktats of media oligarchs and managements. Media barons kowtow to governments as they depend on advertising largesse to run their empires. “

The DUJ has also expressed deep regrets that because of the skewed economics of the media industry and the larger business interests of ambitious media barons, journalists are forced to push a pro big business and pro government agenda. The space for free thought and expression has been shrinking and many bold, talented, creative journalists have been marginalised, even rendered unemployed.

Under these circumstances, a number of such journalists have started their own YouTube channels and many have large followings.  Women still have to catch up in this area. The majority of anchors and commentators on digital news platforms are overwhelmingly male and little effort is made to include women on ‘manels’.

The media, whether mainstream or digital, is dominated by upper caste males and excludes lower castes and religious and ethnic minorities. Women journalists are still a minority within the profession and sexual harassment by powerful bosses is not uncommon.

Hence, on IWD, the DUJ has called for a more inclusive media that includes the perspectives, voices and concerns of ordinary people. Also, the DUJ has urged greater focus on social issues, on people’s rights to food, health care, education and a healthier greener environment. We regret the growing media obsession with flashy weddings and glamourous events.

The DUJ has also condemned the growing communalization of the media and its role in polarizing Indian society. Several TV anchors, both women and men, display rancour and open hostility towards opposition politicians invited to their shows, but genuflect before those from the ruling party.

In this polarised environment independent journalists face threats from both state and non-state actors. Women journalists in a particular are targeted by trolls, with sexist abuse, rape and death threats on social media.

The DUJ, in the statement issued by Sujata Madhok President, SK Pande, Vice-President and AM Jigeesh, General Secretary has also demanded that both social media companies and the government take measures to stop such anonymous abuse and threats to journalists.

The DUJ has demanded law to protect journalists from arbitrary arrests, raids on their homes and vengeful defamation cases against those who investigate and report the truth in these perilous times.

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The post On Women’s Day DUJ Call for a Less Polarized, More Inclusive Media appeared first on SabrangIndia.

After the attack, a second FIR was filed against Wagle at the Parvati police station in Pune where he and several others, which includes organisers of the Nirbhay Bano event in Pune, are now subjects of an FIR. The FIR is based on charges for violation of a police notice. The list of named people in the FIR has members of various political parties, such as Dhiraj Ghate, the Pune unit chief of the BJP along with 250 party members, Arvind Shinde, the Congress party city chief, Prashant Jagtap representing the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Sanjay More from Shiv Sena. Furthermore, the social media site X was also trending with people calling for his arrest. 

Meanwhile, on Saturday, ten members of the BJP were arrested in Pune in connection with the assault on senior journalist Nikhil Wagle. The arrested people have been identified as Deepak Pote, Ganesh Ghosh, Ganesh Sherla, Raghvendra Mankar, Swapnil Naik, Pratik Desarda, Dushyant Mohol, Datta Sagre, Girish Mankar, and Rahul Paygude. Several charges have been filed against them which include sections of the Indian Penal Code related to rioting and voluntarily causing harm.

Prior to the attack, BJP Pune’s president Dheeraj Ghate reportedly commented on the incident on X, associating Wagle with ‘naxalism’. There is thus far no news or reports of Ghate being arrested as of yet. 

*आम्ही जे बोलतो ते करतोच…!!*
स्वतःला पुरोगामी म्हणवणाऱ्या परंतु सत्यता बघितले तर नक्षलवादाला खतपाणी घालणाऱ्या निखिल वागळेने ऋषीतुल्य व्यक्तिमत्व भारतरत्न लालकृष्ण आडवाणी जी आणि देशाचे आदरणीय पंतप्रधान नरेंद्र जी मोदी यांच्या बद्दल स्वतःच्या प्रसिद्धीसाठी आक्षेपार्य विधान करून… pic.twitter.com/Dr8XypZqzA

— Dheeraj Ghate (@DheerajGhate) February 9, 2024

Meanwhile, the Indian Express has reported that Nikhil Wagle’s team, with Vishwambhar Choudhary and Asim Sarode, has called for the arrest of Dheeraj Ghate and other party figures purportedly after the attack on Wagle. 

On February 11, Sunil Deodhar from the BJP called for the arrest of journalist Nikhil Wagle who according to him has made “objectionable” remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.

According to reports, Deodhar has stated that he has lodged a formal complaint with the Pune police on February 8 against Nikhil Wagle, which he has done because of “offensive tweet” by Wagle posted on February 6. The FIR, filed at Vishrambaug police station, books Wagle for charges against his remarks under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 500 (defamation) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief). 

According to the report, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that an investigation into the matter is currently ongoing. Furthermore, a senior police official has stated to the newspaper that there are no immediate plans to arrest Wagle in connection with the case and the decision to arrest him will only be made after the investigation is complete. 

Wagle’s car was brutally attacked on February 9 in Pune with scores of people hitting his car with hockey sticks, stone, and iron rods resulting in smashed windows of the car and injured passenger. Wagle was informed about a tense atmosphere after he made a tweet by the police.

The police have issued a public statement saying that they had asked Wagle not to leave for the event until all the protestors were detained. However, the police has stated, that due to traffic the detaining people began to take time, but Wagle did not take note and left for the event and even ‘changed routes.’ However the police has stated that they had plainclothes police personnel following him for his safety. About the attacked they have stated that, “When the car was attacked, the plainclothes policemen standing between agitators and Wagle’s car tried to stop the attack, but heavy traffic and bystanders ruled out the possibility of using force of evacuating him and his car immediately.”

Speaking to Sabrang India after the incident, Nikhil Wagle narrated about how the events took place, “The fact that we survived was a chamatkaar (miracle). We were about to die, but got saved. This was a mob lynching. We were surrounded in all directions and chased. I’ve been attacked even before this, but this was the worst.” Further, he says that the attack took place in police presence, “The police came with us, but the police did not protect us.”

“The police stopped us at Asim Sarode’s house – this was a house arrest. They kept telling us to stop for half an hour, ten minutes more. But finally I decided to leave and I told the police I have committed to the people.” He further goes on to say that the stone-pelting started soon after they took to the road.

Meanwhile a BJP leader from Pune has reportedly stated that the party workers agitated against Wagle because of his own statements. According to the Indian Express, BJP spokesperson Sandeep Khardekar has said that, “Both actions are condemnable. The attack on Wagle’s car is condemnable, and his disparaging remarks against PM Modi and LK Advani are even more condemnable. Our party workers would not have done what they did if they were not instigated by Wagle’s objectionable comment. Wagle stooped very low but no one took him to task. Why are people silent on his derogatory comment?”

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The post 10 arrested after attack against senior Marathi journalist appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Broadcasting Bill blurs the distinction between journalism and content creation. The definition of news and current affairs has been deliberately left so broad that all sorts of online media can be controlled through it. It clubs together both broadcast and digital media, although broadcast media includes the big channels while digital news media channels are often small outfits run by one or two persons. Many clauses, particularly those relating to self-censorship, are completely impractical given the nature of small news media. Some dangerous clauses include the power to seize electronic devices including studio equipment. There are apprehensions that the Bill could muffle independent voices including those of YouTube journalists, news analysts and digital websites.

In the opinion of these journalist associations, such a bill could wait till the formation of a common body like a Media Commission of India comprising experts and stake holders who could look into all aspects of self-regulation rather than inviting government control. Today there exists a wide spectrum media, ranging from print, broadcast, digital to TV and other media and it is not possible to regulate it through such measures. Instead, it is necessary to organize extensive consultations with all stakeholders, look into the common grievances’ and seek common solutions. Decisions made without democratic consultations could smack of authoritarianism.

The statement states that the NAJ, the APWJF and NWMI also apprehend that the Broadcast Bill is being pushed in a hurry and could be yet another attempt to curb independent thinking, protest and dissent. Therefore the demand is that it should be immediately rolled back. The statement by Sujata Madhok, general secretary, DUJ, AM Jigneesh, DUJ, G Anjaneyulu, Predient, and APWJF and N.Kondaiah, Secretary General, NAL and SK Pande, Presdident, NAJ also notes that the Bill is ominously, inexplicably silent on concentration of media ownership in big corporate hands which is itself a big threat to freedom of expression and diversity of opinion.

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The post Gateway to Censorship: caution and concern over the proposed Broadcasting Bill, 2023 appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a special message to the meeting, senior advocate, Sanjay Hegde, in a written statement said, “I am happy that Democracy and Journalists’ Rights, are still being sought to be discussed and protected at the office of the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ). I am out of Delhi, but present with you in spirit.  To keep insisting on finding out the truth and speaking that truth to power, is the essence of journalism and the best safeguard for democracy. Unfortunately, in an era of post-truth, the conscientious journalist is faced with a choice of succumbing to market forces or being driven out of the media market. While people still want to be informed, they are most gratified, if the information that they got on WhatsApp, is confirmed in print or on television. Media has now become not only a battlefield of misinformation but also an arena of competitive narratives – he cautioned,

While the media has no special concessions in law, its independence has been held to be part of the citizens’ right of informed free speech”. He added, “In a diminishing market for journalistic integrity and rigour, it is heartening to know that there are still bastions of journalistic integrity that are standing out.

A series of raids, arrests and confiscations have not deterred those who have stuck to the straight path” he said.

Hegde further added: “I express my gratitude to those friends from the media, who despite trying circumstances, have not quit fighting the good fight. Whether it be the journalists of Newsclick or Kashmir times, or those who are getting killed on the frontlines in Gaza, the odds seem insurmountable, yet the desire to correctly report the story continues undiminished. I salute this undiminished courage shown by those who have chosen to persist, in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.” Recalling the words of George Orwell, he also said, “In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” May the revolution of Satyameva Jayate long continue?”

Among the speakers were representatives of teachers’ unions and labour unions, besides several distinguished journalists with special messages by legal expert and commentator Sanjay Hegde and a brief note by All India Lawyers Union General secretary P.V.Surendranath. 

From a Conference of the AILU General Secretary in a special message P.V. Surendranath General Secretary said: “I am happy that you all joined together here to resist the present onslaught on media and media freedom; the very fundamental right to freedom of thought and expression. The state –present regime has created an architecture of surveillance and media is under it. The oppressive action on Newsclick is not an aberration; intimidation, threat, coercion and sheer white violence will be used selectively; and that is it. Every other who raises voice is ‘anti national’, the new narrative of the regime.  In fact they have become paranoiac. So they fear even voices in the parliament; hence comes en masse suspension and undemocratic passing of draconian laws.

He added: “Now IPC is replaced by Bharathiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)-more draconian than the “colonial’ IPC. The claim of abrogation of sedition – section 124A IPC is fraud on the people- it reappeared in section 152 of BNS in a more virulent draconian form; any criticism against the regime can be treated as against integrity of country and against nation; and to be punished with life imprisonment.” 

Veteran Trade Unionist J. S. Majumdar (CITU), warned that while implementation of the Labour Codes had been stalled because of resistance from workers, they could be implemented after the coming elections. Among others the two Working Journalists Acts that govern working conditions in the media would be totally demolished. He felt that the journalists and working classes have to join in wider struggles to ensure alliances and a democratic upsurge.

Rajeev Kunwar, Delhi University teacher and concerned activist, part of the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA),   spoke of the mass retrenchment of ad hoc teachers who did not subscribe to the ruling party ideology. He warned that the growing centralisation of both governance and of finances through measures like GST threatens the autonomy of the states and their universities. He said during the Covid period decisions like FYUP, a semester system and New Education Policy were brought in without debate. He said many policy decisions are now taken at the behest of global finance capital. 

Eminent journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta spoke of the attacks on Newsclick, the raids on homes of 88 journalists and staff and the indefinite seizure of 300 personal electronic devices including mobiles, laptops, hard discs etc. that are the basic tools of our trade. He reminded that Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakraborty continue to be in jail while the UAPA threat looms over many others.  

S.K. Pande, president of the NAJ and vice president of the DUJ asserted that the last decade had seen journalism and the journalists battered and bruised as never before in an undeclared Emergency amidst dark shadows of creeping fascism and McCarthysm with McCarthyist style witch hunts thrown in. A classic case he added, was the case of NewsClick.

Independent journalism, he added, was being specially targeted. By early next month, Editor Prabir Purkayastha and his colleague would have spent around ninety days in custody. Frequent attacks on the Wire, Kashmir Times, and journalists in Kashmir also laid bare a series of attacks to name a few. The wage fixation machinery is now virtually dead as are all labour laws and journalists’ rights.

Small and medium newspapers and cooperatives are virtually dead and the Urdu press are reduced to nothingness despite its glorious past. The Press Information Bureau is a virtual police information bureau and the veteran journalists’ category, and Parliament central hall passes for journalists news gathering have been reduced to nothingness.

Prominent journalist, Bhasha Singh said we face a crisis of democracy, not just journalism. The mainstream media no longer report news, they report according to a set, dictated agenda. People in a different fields are facing many problems but these are not reported. It is vital now to use small platforms everywhere and connect these to bigger platforms and struggle to promote democracy and rights, she said. 

Another renowned journalist, and feature writer, Rashme Sehgal said there was a lack of transparency and secret hands behind many official decisions. She cited the Agniveer as an example of a scheme that most army persons oppose but for some reason had been pushed through. The top brass did not dare to oppose it openly.  Faraz Ahmed, also representing several years in the journalists’ profession, said that democracy had faced a severe battering and journalism was part of that, with Godi media reducing the media to a farce.

Speaking in solidarity, General Secretary of KUWJ Delhi Unit Dhanasumod spoke of the bright spark of some relief provided in the case of Siddique Kappan fought by the KUWJ both inside and outside the court, but he continues to suffer the agony, he added.

Senior journalist T.K. Rajalakshmi said in the media we face attacks from both within and without. We have to face the employers’ arbitrary decisions, agenda diktats and even retrenchments. The government too is increasingly trying to control media, including social media, through moves like the Telecom Bill and the Broadcasting Bill. However, she said, we must not be disheartened but organise and resist censorship through such means.

The meeting was coordinated by DUJ president Sujata Madhok, general secretary A.M.Jigeesh, among many others at short notice. The meet with slogans and the symbolic lighting of candles as a sign of protest.

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The post Delhi: Protest meeting on journalists rights and democratic rights appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Between 2018-2023, that is the term of the incumbent governments facing elections, journalists and RTI activists in these states have been killed, arrested and attacked for their work. Censorship was an abiding feature, either due to government policy or through the weapon of ‘lawfare’, as journalists were slapped with cases ranging from sedition to defamation, causing disharmony and enmity, often struggling with multiple FIRs registered in different police stations.

Of the five state assemblies go to the polls – Chhattisgarh, in two phases, on November 7 and 17; Mizoram on November 7; Madhya Pradesh on November 17; Rajasthan on  November 23 and Telangana on November 30. Among the issues being raised before the electorate – social security schemes, health insurance, protection for gig workers, unemployment, corruption, health care, safety of women, displacement due to infrastructure projects, farm loans and pensions, there is a studied silence over the state of free speech and safety of media persons in these states.

The categories recorded by Free Speech Collective were: Killings of journalists; arrests; detentions; deportation; arrest of other citizens; attacks on journalists; threats; censorship, Internet shutdowns, cases of defamation, sedition and contempt of court, clubbed uner the term ‘lawfare’ to indicate overuse and misuse of laws to silence dissent). The report records cases, police investigations and action and court cases and judgements in this period. It includes news reports, monitoring of existing cases, interviews with key stakeholders along with a brief contextual background into each state and a brief summary of laws affecting freedom of expression.

Mizoram (goes to the polls on November 7):

 Over the last five years, one journalist was attacked, another was threatened and two faced censorship. According to local journalists who sought anonymity, self-censorship had become a norm and divisions on political lines within the media has also not helped the cause of press freedom.

In Mizoram, access to information has been the biggest challenge and journalists’ bodies have been hampered by attempts by the government and border security forces to restrict their movements and regulate permission for news coverage in border areas. Mizoram, which goes to the polls on November 7, shares a border with Manipur and its government has come out in support of the Kuki-Zo community in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Manipur. Its government has stated that it will ignore the Union home ministry’s order to collect biometric data of refugees from bordering Myanmar who have crossed the international border to flee from the junta.Chhattisgarh (goes to the polls in two phases on November 7 and 17):

The Free Speech report observes that while Chhattisgarh was one of the few states which offered financial assistance of Rs 500,000 to dependents of media persons who died due to Covid-19 under the Media Representative Welfare Assistance Rules, journalists in this state faced the brunt of ‘lawfare’, being charged under multiple sections of the law for reporting on sand mining and other corruption at local levels.

Despite government assurances and the passage of a media protection law, journalists on the ground were vulnerable to false cases. In Surguja division alone, which comprises six districts, 22 journalists have faced the brunt for their reporting, most of whom have been arrested or have had cases slapped against them. arrested. Take the case of Sunil Namdev, who runs a YouTube channel News Today. Reporting on Covid violations by the ruling party members; corruption in construction; the arrest of senior IAS officers who colluded with the Congress government in the coal mafia scam, promptly landed him in jail, where he still is lodged since May 2023. Jitendra Jaiswal, a journalist from Ambikapur who runs a digital news platform, Bharat Samman has 12 cases against him – one during the 15-year- old BJP rule and the rest in the last five years of Congress rule. Jaiswal has recently been given a notice of ‘jilla badal’ (externment) placing him under the list of ‘gunda-badmash’ (gangster).Madhya Pradesh (goes to the polls of November 17):

Over the last five years, there were 24 incidents of free speech violations recorded in Madhya Pradesh. Apart from the killing of two journalists (Chakresh Jain and Sunil Tiwari), the arrests of journalists, stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui and five members of his team, there were 12 instances of “lawfare” against the media. Madhya Pradesh also became a laboratory of sorts for academic censorship with the monitoring of prescribed books, classroom teaching and the targeting of teachers of a minority community, as exemplified but the case against Dr Farhat Khan in Indore.

As the recent arrest and over two-month long incarceration of reporter Jaalam Singh, charged with seven FIRs in Guna and Shivpuri districts in Madhya Pradesh indicates, such repressive action has had a chilling effect on journalism. If on the one hand, there is acute self-censorship, on the other, there is a woeful absence of the critical questioning that would otherwise be the hallmark of investigative journalism. In both scenarios, the net result is deliberate silencing. As Suman Kirar, Jaalam Singh’s wife said bitterly, “Instead of questioning and protesting the arrest of a colleague, all these ‘positive’ stories are being published. A journalist who refused to take money or remain silent is still in jail.”Rajasthan (goes to the polls on November 23):

Over the last five years, as per data available with Free Speech Collective, there were two killings of   RTI activists (Jagdish Goliya and Rai Singh Gurjar) while six others were attacked. Of the total of 72  incidents of free speech violations, sixty were of internet shutdowns – amongst the largest in the country.

Rajasthan has also unfortunately used the undemocratic internet shutdown at times of law and order crises. Shutdowns were implemented ignoring the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India in the Anuradha Bhasin case. In this western Indian state alone, Rajasthan, of the five states under review, the Internet was shut down on a whopping 72 occasions recorded by the FSC State Index, a majority of which were to clamp down on protests.Telangana (goes to polls on November 30):

There were two killings of journalists and RTI activists, while at least four journalists were arrested and three were attacked. In January 2022, in a shocking incident that amounts to mass intimidation of the media, around 40 journalists were detained for 12 hours for their allegedly unfavourable coverage of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government and chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. In Telangana, bulldozer policing was used to devastating effect on May 22, 2020 to raze to the ground the residence of V6 News Channel journalist Shanigarapu Parameshwar, who reported on the birthday party of MLA Mahareddy Bhupal Reddy with 500 supporters in violation of the lockdown in Narayankhed, Telangana, observes the report.

Right to Information (RTI) activists also faced curbs on the right to free speech, and were vulnerable to murderous attacks. In a chilling case against an RTI activist and retired Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) in Telangana, 70-year-old RTI activist Nalla Ramakrishnaiah was killed in Jangaon district and his body dumped in a water-filled quarry after he complained about irregularities by the accused, G Anjaiah, in a land issue.

This report has been prepared by Geeta Seshu, Laxmi Murthy, Malini Subramaniam and Sarita Ramamoorthy. The report has also observed that the term of the outgoing state assemblies was also marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown from March 24, 2020. There is already extensive documentation on the restrictions on the media during the unprecedented nation-wide lockdown. In Madhya Pradesh, the scare over the virus resulted in suspension of print media publications in 95 per cent of the state’s districts.

Overall, observes the analysis, there has been a steady deterioration of freedom of expression in India and there is overwhelming evidence of journalists killed, attacked, arrested, charged for their investigative work, intimidated or denied access to the gathering of news and information in the public interest or bluntly censored and silenced. India fares badly in global indices of press freedom organisations. India has slipped to 161 in rankings of the World Press Freedom Index maintained by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and ranks 11th on Global Impunity Index 2022 of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

As the five states go to the polls, it is worth noting that the Indian National Congress in its 2019 manifesto on “Media and Press Freedom” promises reform in regulatory bodies to tackle paid news, disinformation and media monopolies, and promises to work with state governments to protect journalists working in conflict areas or those investigating matters of public interest. Free speech is not a specific poll issue in the manifesto of any of the other political parties.

The entire report of Free Speech Collective may be read here:

The post Two journalists each killed in MP & Telangana, a free press under threat: Report appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In two separate communications, one to the Lok Sabha speaker, Om Birla and Rajya Sabha chairperson, Jagdeep Ghankar, the Editor’s Guild has raised the issue of the immediate need for unrestricted access for journalists to the Central Hall of Parliament as well as coverage of all sessions therein. The communication also states that the constitution of the Press Advisory Committee is also long overdue.

Drawing attention to the new practice of the Secretariat to limit access of journalists to cover the proceedings of Parliament, suspension of Central Hall for senior journalists admitted after procedure and non-constitution of the Press Advisory Committee over the last three years, the communication points out that these restrictions were put in place on account of the covid-19 protocols in 2020. These restrictions have even extended to some accredited media persons.

The Editor’s Guild also states that journalists from print and electronic medium have been given access to cover the proceedings since the Constituent Assembly and later the first Parliament with the objective of keeping the citizens abreast with the work of their representatives, developments inside the House, and the dynamics outside. This is vital in a parliamentary democracy. Seniors recall that even during the Emergency period, members of press who could not get accreditation from the Press Information Bureau for some reasons, were not denied facility to cover the proceedings. As for access to Central Hall, it is a privilege accorded to accredited journalist after minimum of 10 years of reportage and it is a place where informal discussions happen which are not reported as a matter of convention.

In fact, way back in 1956 there was a move to dissociate journalists from the facility and the then Speaker observed that “Central Hall facility helps the journalists in having close discussions with Ministers and the members with a view to know the real and comparatively better background of things than studying from the Press Gallery. The freedom of expression thus keeps the public outside informed not only about the plans of the Government but also the considerations and the motives which prompt it to embark upon such plans…a close contact between the press and the legislature is essential for keeping the public well informed and perhaps not advisable to abolish Central Hall facilities”.

Besides, there is a need for grant of temporary and visiting journalist passes, which has been suspended for two years puts the young members of the media fraternity at a great disadvantage. The process allows youngsters to acquaint themselves with the procedures and processes and pick-up nuances under guidance of seniors, says the Editor’s Guild.

“It is only after a specified period of coverage that media persons qualify to apply for permanent pass. For accreditation under various categories, applications are screened by the Press Advisory Committee appointed by the Speaker with Lok Sabha Press and Public Relations Committee, conducting due diligence as per guidelines approved by the General Purpose Committee. The above role was envisaged by your illustrious predecessor G.V. Mavalankar, who in 1946 decided the Committee should, among other things, discharge advisory functions including examination of temporary and permanent admissions to the press gallery and that applications for such admission would be referred to the Committee for its opinion and advice. Since then, the process remained in place till it was abandoned recently.

“That such a practice was stopped when Parliament completed 70th year of its existence narrates its own story. We are certain under your guidance, these restrictions will be lifted by the Secretariat and members of the media admitted will have unhindered access in the “temple of democracy”, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterised Parliament on his first visit in 2014.

The communications of the Editor’s Guild have been signed by Seema Mustafa, president, Anant Nath, general secretary and Shriram Pawar, treasurer. The Press Advisory Committee has also not been reconstituted. The Committee has an historical background and was founded in 1929 under the guidance of the President of the first elected Legislative Assembly, Vithalbhai Patel.

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Will the gov’t continue to restrict journalists’ access to Parliament?

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The post Journalist access to Parliament still denied: Editor’s Guild lodges strong protest appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) must stop the harassment of journalist Ashish Sagar Dixit, said Human Rights Defenders – Alert (HRDA) on March 21, 2022. The forum alleged that the environment and RTI activist has been facing fabricated cases and intimidation from the Banda police since the start of the year.

The police listed Dixit as a “history-sheeter” on January 5, when two officers visited the Bundelkhand Press Trust Founder and Voice of Bundelkhand Digital Editor’s house. Since January 5, the journalist has received multiple notices from the police and judiciary regarding as many as six cases filed against him.

The HRDA demanded an inquiry into these FIRs saying, “Depending on the result of the inquiry, direct the DGP to initiate action against the police and administrative officials responsible for abuse of power and continued harassment of journalist Dixit.”

On January 9, he received another notice from the city magistrate that described him as a person of criminal nature. The sub-city magistrate ordered his presence in the district court on February 8, to argue against the penalisation of one surety bond and two bail bonds of ₹ 50,000 each. This was followed by yet another notice by the district magistrate regarding his Facebook post. In it, Dixit said that the current district magistrate had lodged an FIR on journalist Pawan Jaiswal earlier, for a news report on mid-day meals of salt with roti to school children.

On February 12, Dixit replied that he was being harassed with fabricated charges and apologised for unintentionally hurting the official’s image. Similarly, he wrote to the Banda Superintendent of Police on February 15, to reiterate the conspiracy against him. He said the allegations were politically motivated due to his journalistic work. Still, he did not receive a response.

“We would like to express our grave concern about the extreme mental and legal harassment being faced by Mr. Dixit for his work as a journalist. We believe that the multiple charges against him, showing him as a hardened criminal, are fabricated and an abuse of power by the police personnel and local administration,” said HRDA.

Citing the freedom of speech and expression, the human rights defenders’ forum demanded that the National Human Rights Commission warn the State Chief Secretary against the misuse of laws to criminalise the same or harass journalists.

“If journalists are targeted when they criticise public officials, they will seldom dare to take a stand and the democracy will be crushed further,” it said.

HRDA said that the fabricated charges against Dixit and similar harassment demonstrate the abuse of power by the state police to stop journalists from criticising public officials. The protection of journalists and ending impunity for attacks against them, is a priority for safeguarding freedom of expression. The forum said that a free expression of journalists is essential to ensure the public’s right to know, so that governments and institutions can be held accountable.

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Siddique Kappan: A journalist who has spent 500+ days in prison, for just doing his job

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While it is false that journalist Moulvi Muhammad Baqir was tied to the mouth of a cannon on September 16, 1857, it is true that he was the first journalist to be martyred in India’s independence struggle.

On paper, Baqir was arrested two days before his death for revolting. However, historians talk about how Baqir was a vocal freedom fighter who used his Urdu newspaper Delhi Urdu Akhbar to encourage a nationalist movement.

The weekly newspaper started in between 1836-37 after Baqir quit his job in the British administration. Through the publication, Baqir worked to contribute to the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He encouraged public opinion to speak against colonial repression. Since Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar led the revolution at the time, Baqir renamed his newspaper to ‘Akhbar Uz Zafar’ on July 12, 1857 to show his support.

He also published on Sundays instead of Saturdays as his own rebellion against the British, who observed sabbath on Sundays. The newspaper survived for nearly 21 years and has become popular as significant literature for Urdu journalism. Baqir’s work instigated a political awakening in public. Yet at the same time, his writing also called for a unity between Hindus and Muslims.

He printed articles appealing to both sides to come together to decry colonial rule. To make this a reality, Baqir had already made efforts since 1843, building an Imambara in Delhi near Kashmiri Gate. The place was a common gathering location for Shia Muslims, Sunnis and Hindus alike to commemorate the battle of Karbala.

However, he forbade the practice of Tabarra that demanded dissociation from those who opposed God. According to reports, his actions angered Shia cleric Molana Jafar of Jarja, who, in vain, complained to authorities against this rule.

Baqir’s writings created a ripple effect. People were slowly encouraged to voice themselves against the British Raj. He continuously wrote articles denouncing colonial rule and called on people and Sepoys to fight for freedom. Such was his influence that Baqir did not even receive a trial  before being shot by Major William S.R. Hudson. Nonetheless, for his work and contributions, he remains immortalised in Russian artist Vasily Vereshchagin ‘Suppression of the Indian Revolt by the English’ painting portraying the woes of freedom fighters.

Even today, his contributions are honoured by many people.

Maulvi Muhammad Baqir, owner of Delhi Urdu Akhbar, was shot dead on 16th September, 1857 for writing Nationalist articles. He was the 1st journalist to lay his life during the independence movement. #indiaIndependenceday #IndiaAt75 pic.twitter.com/gyQqvGLLAk

— Khushnoor Mirza (@MirzaVoice) August 15, 2021

Maulvi Muhammad Baqir, owner of Delhi Urdu Akhbar, was shot dead on 16th September, 1857 for writing Nationalist articles. He was the 1st journalist to lay his life during the independence movement. #indiaIndependenceday #IndiaAt75 pic.twitter.com/gyQqvGLLAk

— Khushnoor Mirza (@MirzaVoice) August 15, 2021

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“I am terminated from my channel Aaj Tak (India Today Group) for writing these two tweets on Prime Minister Modi,” tweeted journalist Shyam Meera Singh on July 19, 2021 after his removal for allegedly violating the media house’s social media and code of conduct policies.

On July 18, Singh received a letter from the ITG Digital Vanchha Garg that talked about how he was unable to follow the guidelines he signed and accepted at the time of his employment.

“You are well versed with ITG’s Social Media and Code of Conduct policies which specifically advise us to use social media for news that has been published or aired by the system and not for personal views. Besides being alerted on other breaches, you have received at least two formal warnings. Yet, the attached recent tweets show repeat transgressions,” said the letter sent by HR Business Partner Vanchha Garg.

The two tweets published by Singh are as follows:

I am terminated from my channel Aaj Tak (India Today Group) for writing these two tweets on Prime minister Modi. pic.twitter.com/L6JRlC3RDi

— Shyam Meera Singh (@ShyamMeeraSingh) July 19, 2021

Despite the sudden firing, Singh accepted the action in good humour, even sporting the words “Journalist, terminated from Aaj Tak” in his social media bio. Further, he dedicated the letter to his belated friend and renowned photojournalist Danish Siddiqui.

People dedicate their degrees, research papers to their Ideals. I have nothing to show but a termination letter from my company IndiaToday, So I want to dedicate my termination letter to my beloved friend Danish Siddiqui, who martyred in Afghanistan.

— Shyam Meera Singh (@ShyamMeeraSingh) July 19, 2021

If speaking against Modi equal speaking against India, then throw me in jail

Speaking to SabrangIndia, Singh said that he was well aware about the guidelines that barred personal views on social media. The guidelines demanded views that spoke in line with the content and voice of the organisation. Regardless, he decided to speak his mind. When asked about his view of such restrictions, he compared them to a bird who has wings but risks having them cut off if it tries to fly. Still, he did not blame the ITG for his termination.

“I consider my fight a fight of the company as well. I don’t blame anybody or any company. Instead, I question the system that has forced my termination on such grounds. That system is the Prime Minister, his government and his IT cell,” said Singh.

When asked whether he considered his removal, a violation of his fundamental rights, Singh said, “Definitely! While preparing for IAS, I studied freedom of speech. The Article makes any law that infringes on free speech null and void, even laws of a private company. Even if I sign a document saying otherwise, the real culprit is the maker of such a policy, not me.” 

As for reasonable restrictions, he said that if criticising Modi was the same as threatening the security of the State or any similar clause, then we will gladly accept further legal proceedings. On his own part however, he is not keen on taking up legal action.

“I was well aware of what company I was working for. But I did this to put on record what is happening and how our democratic rights are being handled. If a journalist cannot criticise his own Prime Minister, then you can imagine the state of citizens in that country,” he said.

Incidentally, this is what Modi had to say about government criticism two years ago.

I want this Government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 18, 2018

Singh also emphasised that he expressed his views, not as a journalist but as a citizen who saw his family and kin suffer during the Covid-19 health crisis.

“I watched my own family members die during Covid-19. At this time, I feel every citizen should criticise the government as I have done. Even the company should have supported me but it didn’t. Anyway, I have done my duty as an Indian citizen,” he said.

Singh said he considered the recent incident an attack on the rights of his company as well.

Free speech in corporate media

A few months ago, India Today’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai also suffered a similar fate. He was taken off-air between January and February for two weeks for publishing a tweet on the farmer’s protest. His tweet that spoke of the alleged killing of farmer Navneet at ITO during the January 26 Farmers’ Parade also cost him a month’s salary.

Later, he even posted a video stating that “farm protesters’ allegations don’t stand.” Despite this, BJP leader Amit Malviya and many other right-wingers on social media called for Sardesai’s firing. Malviya even called him a “repeat offender.”

Do Indians truly have free speech?

Article 19 of the Constitution grants freedom of speech and expression to all Indian citizens. But Singh said that though people have free speech, the issue is the topic of the speech.

“There is free speech in India. People have a right to criticise Dalits, insult or attack IAS officers, abuse Rahul Gandhi or other political leaders but they do not have the right to demand their rights,” he said.

Related:

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How the Delhi HC gave a fitting reply to criminalisation of dissent and protest

The post I did my duty as an Indian: Shyam Meera Singh on his removal from Aaj Tak appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“Mother died, rights as a journalist violated,” Journalist Siddique Kappan reportedly told Mathura Court in his bail plea, the matter has been adjourned to July 5, reported Live Law. His mother Khadeeja Kutty, died waiting for Siddique, her youngest child to call her as he had always done. “We had not told her that Siddique was jailed, he would call her everyday earlier and they would have long chats. She would keep track of his work too,” said Kappan’s wife Raihanath, who took care of her mother in law till the end came on Friday. She is now handling the streams of calls, and visits from those expressing their condolences and has not really had the time to mourn the woman she loved. Raihanath says it was Siddique’s prolonged absence that hurt Khadeeja Kutty, the most. Siddique had been in jail for the last 8 months and 22 days, when his mother expired, his counsel had submitted before the Mathura ADJ Narender Kumar Pandey, according to news reports.

The last Khadeeja had heard from Siddique was that he going to Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras to report on the alleged gang-rape of a Dalit woman.

“She was old, but she was in stable health [before his arrest]. She would read all his news reports first thing in the morning,” Raihanath told SabrangIndia over the phone from Kerala. Then his daily calls stopped suddenly. “She was not told about his arrest. Siddique not being home affected her deeply. He used to call her everyday and suddenly for her there was no news of him,” said Raihanath. 

According to her, the old woman’s health started deteriorating after that, “That is what led to her death. Even if I hid the news of his health she could sense something had happened. She eventually grew tired of asking us because we would evade the questions. She went completely silent for a long time before she died. “I can’t see my son… where is my son” was all she would ask. I had no option but to hide the details from her.”

Siddique last visited his mother in February, when the Supreme Court granted him five days’ bail, NDTV had then reported, adding that the court said Siddique “could only speak to relatives and doctors treating his mother” and he was escorted by cops at all times. When he heard of her death, he asked his family to arrange the funeral, adding that he will pray for her in his jail cell, said his family members. 

Raihanath, however, says while she was at home and could see her mother in law’s health decline, the news of her death would have been a shock to Siddique. “It’s just been a few days since Umma (mother) passed away. I know what he must be feeling, he was not able to see her one last time. I am sure he wanted to come home to her… we had hoped he would get bail. However, that did not happen as the main judge was not there I was told. Now we wait for July 5,” she said.

Earlier this week the Mathura court dropped one case, relating to apprehension of breach of peace – against Kappan because police failed to complete inquiries within the six-month deadline, reported NDTV. However he remains in jail on other charges including Sedition. 

Justice delayed is justice denied

What does Raihanath hope for now that one case against Siddique has been dropped? 

“Our lawyer went to the Mathura Court after the Supreme Court directions. We still have hope, after the Mathura court dropped a case related to the apprehension of breach of peace,” she says her ‘hope’ is fuelled by “what Siddique told me, that India is a democracy and we must believe in the judicial system. We have to have the faith that the court will be just. His health has been deteriorating. His immunity is low. He has already had Covid. That’s when I appealed to the courts, and they moved him to AIIMS after the courts intervened. The Uttar Pradesh police didn’t do it on their own.” It is the court’s interventions that keep her hope alive, she says. 

However, she adds that justice should not be delayed, “If justice comes after five or ten years that is not justice.” This is a precarious time for independent journalists in India, she has realised. She says her husband was doing his duty [as a journalist] to verify the facts from the ground, “He was going to Hathras to report on what was the ground reality and not depend on what he had heard.” According to Raihanath, journalists must realise that this is the time for the media to stand together in solidarity. “It is not about Siddique alone. Today it is him, tomorrow it can be any other journalist. Independent journalists are at a risk,” she says. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), of which he was an office bearer, has been at the forefront and had moved the Supreme Court seeking his bail. “The KUWJ is supporting me, they know him well, they know he is innocent. They give me courage, they help with the cases. Some others are perhaps scared for themselves and fear action if they even talk to me. But that too is slowly changing, people are standing in solidarity, even people I do not know call me and give me courage.” 

Raihanath, says she is not an activist, she is the wife of a journalist who has been jailed, “I am a housewife, we have three kids. I studied to be a lab technician, but I chose to stay home and take care of my family. Taking care of my father and mother in law gave me a lot of satisfaction. Siddique took good care of us. I was a simple woman, happy to be a homemaker. The past eight months have changed everything. I realised if I started crying in despair that would be all I would be doing,” she says. Something has changed within her too, she now seeks information, much like a reporter does and is driven to read everything about the case, about the laws invoked and keeps track of all hearings. “I have known Siddique for nearly 20 years, I know what kind of a man he is. He is innocent. He is a good man. I know he is not even capable of Sedition. We are facing many challenges, but I am praying for courage. I have to take care of my three children. I need to be strong. If Siddique calls I have to give him courage too. I have to be strong as there is no option,” she says. 

How does she manage day to day expenses with three growing children at home? “We depended on Siddique’s income to live on. Now it is my entire family that helps, even neighbours help. I wait in hope that this bad time will pass, and the courts will give us justice ,” she says, as yet another guest walks in to express condolences with the family.

Here is a look at how other journalists, who have been charged under various sections recently, are faring at the courts.

NewsClick: Courts direct ED not to take any coercive action till July 5 

Late on Monday night the Delhi High Court directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not to take any coercive action until July 5, against PPK Newsclick Studio Private Limited, which owns the news portal NewsClick, and company director Prabir Purkayastha stated news reports. Justice Jasmeet Singh while issued a notice to ED in a petition seeking a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by ED against NewsClick, has asked Delhi Police to respond to another petition filed by the news portal’s owners for quashing of the case registered by the Economic Offence Wing against it last year, as per news report. The ED has been granted two weeks to file a reply in the case seeking the copy of ECIR, by the court. According to news reports, the ED case related to alleged foreign funding is based on an FIR registered by Delhi Police’s Economic Offence Wing (EOW) last year. NewsClick and its editor-in-chief Purkayastha in his petition had sought a copy of the ECIR and protection from any coercive action in the meantime.

The ED had also raided, for around 113 hours, multiple locations related to the news portal in February this year. It was only after the physical raids ended that NewsClick’s 73-year-old editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, and 67-year-old author Githa Hariharan were allowed to step out of their South Delhi apartment. They had been confined indoors since the raids began in the morning on February 9, Tuesday at the NewsClick office and residences of the senior staff.

Rana Ayyub : Bombay HC grants 4-week protection from arrest

On Monday, June 21, the Bombay High Court granted a “transit anticipatory bail” to journalist Rana Ayyub in connection with an FIR against her for sharing the video of an elderly Muslim man being assaulted in Ghaziabad. The court granted her protection from arrest for four weeks, reported Indian Express. The Ghaziabad Police registered an FIR naming news portal The Wire,  journalists Saba Naqvi, Rana Ayyub, and fact checker Mohammed Zubair on June 15. Congress leaders Salman Nizami, Shama Mohamed and Maskoor Usmani have also been named. They have been accused of posting tweets without “verifying facts” and “giving a communal colour” to the alleged assault on Sufi Abdul Samad, the old Muslim man at the centre of this growing controversy, who had claimed in a video message that his beard was cut off and he was forced to chant “Vande Mataram” and “Jai Shri Ram” by goons who also assaulted him. 

Ghaziabad police who subsequently arrested the main accused and his accomplices, have ruled out any “communal angle”. The FIR was filed against Ayyub and others, reported IE was for offences punishable under sections 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage reli­gious feelings ), 505 (statements conducting public mischief) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to the news report, the Bench observed, “Since investigation is being conducted by concerned police and since the concerned court will be dealing with the case on merits, it is not necessary to adjudicate on merits of application. However, to enable the applicant to approach the appropriate court, the protection can be granted for a temporary period of four weeks” adding “in the event of arrest, the applicant will be released on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one or more sureties. The protection will be granted for a period of four weeks.” 

Vinod Dua : SC quashes Sedition case against him

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court quashed the Sedition case against journalist Vinod Dua registered at the Himachal Pradesh Police in connection with a video uploaded on YouTube last year criticising the Central government’s poor implementation of the Covid-19 lockdown. The Division Bench of Justices UU Lalit and Vineet Saran stated, “We have quashed the proceedings and FIR. Every journalist will be entitled to the protection under Kedar Nath Singh (sedition) judgment.” The constitutionality of Sedition law was upheld but the 5 judge Bench also said that the offense of Sedition is constituted only when the words spoken have the tendency or intention to create disorder or disturb public peace by resorting to violence. However, the Bench rejected a prayer by Vinod Dua to direct that no FIR should be registered against any media personnel with 10 years’ experience unless cleared by an expert committee. As reported, the court ruled, “We have rejected the committee formation prayer since it will be directly encroaching upon the legislative domain. However, the FIR against Vinod Dua stands quashed.” An FIR was registered against him based on a complaint filed by BJP leader Ajay Shyam after he made personal comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his YouTube program titled “Vinod Dua show”. Dua was reportedly booked under Indian Penal Code sections 124A (sedition), 268 (public nuisance), 501 (printing defamatory matter) and 505 (intent to cause public mischief). Dua was also charged for offences under the Disaster Management Act including spreading of misinformation and false claims.

Mandeep Punia: Freed from jail after court says ‘bail is rule and jail is exception’

Freelance journalist Mandeep Punia was arrested by Delhi Police while covering the farmers’ tractor rally on January 26. He was granted bail, three days after he was arrested and sent to Tihar Jail. The Magistrate court observed that keeping him in custody will not serve any cogent purpose and relied upon ‘bail is rule and jail is exception’ principle. The 25-year-old journalist, a freelancer, an independent reporter, had been sent to judicial custody after his arrest from the Singhu border from where he was reporting about the farmers’ protests. While pronouncing the bail order, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Satvir Singh Lamba later stated that it was unlikely that Punia would influence the course of the investigation and given the well-settled legal principle that bail is the rule. The order reads, “… there is no possibility that accused/ applicant can able to influence any of the police officials. Admittedly, the accused is a freelancer journalist. Moreso, no recovery is to be effected from the accused person and keeping the accused further in Judicial Custody would not serve any cogent purpose. It is well settled legal principle of law that ‘bail is a rule and jail is an exception’. Hence, considering the totality of facts and circumstances of the present case, submissions on behalf of both the parties as well as keeping in view the period of detention of the accused in judicial custody, he is admitted to bail.” The court noted, “The complainant, the victims and the witnesses in the case were all police officials,” hence there was no possibility of Puniya influencing the case.

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