Several journalists’ unions silently protest at Press Club of India against stifling of freedom

The journalists of print and electronics media including independent journalists associated with the Delhi Union of Journalists, Press Club of India and Indian Women Press Corps holding placards in their hands castigating the ruling political dispensation for suppressing journalists and registering false cases against them including initiating various repressive measures thus stifling the voice of free speech and expression, staged a silent protest sit in outside the Press Club of India at Raisina Road. The peacefully protesting journalists included veteran and young journalists as well as good number of women scribes holding placards in hands mentioning slogans like: To question Power is the duty of the press ! It cannot be Jailed ?

Sedition charge against journalists of Long standing ! That’s really Bad News and Enforce freedom of the Press! Outlaw the targetting of it ! Etc

It may be recalled that several fake cases had allegedly been registered against some journalists including cases against severe IPC acts like sedition especially during the ongoing farmers agitation.

While expressing n registering their silent protest at the PCI holding placards with slogans reminding the authorities concerned to stop harrasing n victimising journalists n gagging of the free media the journalists reiterated their strong determination to continue their struggle till the government doesn’t give up stifling the marginalised voices and those who dare to speak the truth.

Prominent journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai and former AAP leader and senior journalist Ashutosh including the chief of the Delhi Union of journalists SK Pandey and general secretary Sudha Madhok voiced their strong annoyance and anger against the incessant harrasments n victimisation of journalists being jailed on fake grounds and severe charges of SEDITION.

The member of the Press Council of India K. Amaranth catagorically said that the government is bent upon stifling the voice of free press, criticism and dissent in democracy which is their fundamental right.

Expressing his strong annoyance while criticizing the ruling party, Press Council of India member Amaranth added that even a news portal has not been spared and ED raid conducted on its office and staff amounting to scuttling the voice of the fourth estate.

I am here to stand to oppose them tooth n nail said the PCI member Amaranth.

Senior journo Ashutosh said that if the nation needed to be alive, the fourth estate should be protected at all costs and repression stopped forthwith.

Rajdeep Sardesai urged all journalists irrespective of their ideologies n narrow differences to come unitedly on one platform to raise their collective voice against injustice being inflicted on mediamen.

Sujata Madhok of DUJ expressing her disenchantment against the govt added that while India claims to be the largest democracy of the world the gagging of the press freedom are denting n demoralising the voice of the marginalised.

The way journalists are being slapped with fake cases n continued repression going on, the functioning of the fourth estate has become extremely difficult, as even in the heart of India Delhi journalists are being jailed n cases slapped against them.

The silent protest was a symbolic registration of the protest at the Press Club of India premises from one to two PM as a mark of cohesive solidarity with the victimised journalists.