Media: Coverage

'When journalists are summoned and their devices seized in the name of investigation, there is an inherent malice in the process that must be checked'

Police in New Delhi have arrested the editor of a news website and one of its administrators after raiding the homes of journalists working for the site. 

A huge crowd gathered at the Press Club of India in Delhi on Wednesday to show solidarity for press freedom and voice their protest against the police action on people associated with news portal NewsClick. “Free the press”, “stop harassing Indian media”, "No to misuse of UAPA" were the words written on some of the banners in the hands of the journalists, academicians, authors and others gathered there. Earlier, 16 journalist bodies wrote to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud urging him to ensure the protection of journalists against unwarranted raids and arrests.

Indian law enforcement uses anti-terror laws on journalists.

Indian police expanded on Thursday an investigation into suspected illegal foreign funding of a news portal, accusing it in court of having sought to create an incorrect map of the country and also sabotage general elections in 2019.

“Today, a large section of journalists in India finds themselves working under the threat of reprisal. It is imperative that the judiciary confronts power with a fundamental truth."

They demand that the UAPA charges invoked in the case be revoked and the journalists be released.

And yet, none of the drastic actions taken by the police made much sense.

A number of journalists, holding banners, gathered at the Press Club of India while student organisations got together at Jantar Mantar.

The propaganda cry of catching terrorists and Chinese agents is for the gullible. The real game is to bring opponents of any stripe, persuasion, or profession, to heel.