In a letter to chief election commissioner (CEC) of India office bearers of press club of India, have demanded action against those orchestrating attack on journalists.
Expressing concern over such incidents of attacks on journalists during ongoing elections they they have drawn the attention of the CEC to the thrashing of Raghav Trivedi during a rally addressed by union home minister Amit Shah. Raghav was doing media coverage for Molitics when he was physically assaulted at Raibareily in Uttar Pradesh.
Media persons discharge their journalistic duties and those responsible for such attacks be brought to books.
The senior journalists also cited the attack on a lady media person Tanya Chugh while she was covering TMC rally at Behrampur, West Bengal. The lady journalist was molested.
As we know “free press is a corner stone of democracy,crucial for holding elected political representatives accountable and fostering informed public discourse. Such things which have become regular these days would defeat the very purpose of being the largest democracy in the world, and also undermine freedom of press”, reads the letter.
The letter has been signed by Gautam Lahiri, President Press Club of India, Parul Sharma, President Indian Women Press Corps, CK Nayar, President Press Association and SN Sinha President All India working news cameramen’s Association (WNCA)
Meanwhile, there are reports of several more incidents of attacks on journalists in Uttar pradesh. This has caused much concern among journalists who sweat it out in order to bring news and event coverage to people in this democratic country.
President Allahabad Press Club Ashok Chaturvedi and Secretary Munendra Bajpai have urged the CEC to initiate prompt action in this case crucial for democracy.