BJP governments gets criticised for filing FIRs against journalists from the Editors Guild

The BJP governments gets strongly criticised from the Editors Guild of India for filing FIRs against the reporters, editors and journalists who were reporting on the farmers’ protest and the followed violence that happened on January 26 in Delhi.

The BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh filed FIRs against journalists accusing them of inciting communal violence over social media handles and instigating the protestors to cause violence.

The Editors Guild of India has condemned the act of the State government of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and has asked for a strict investigation over the matter and also accused journalists under Section 124,(A) which pertains sedition.

The Guild claimed that the reporters that had reported many such incidents on their social media handles and the publication they belong to such as the death of one of the protestors were not false or of an intention to provoke violence. The death of one of the protestors named Navreet Singh,who according to police reports died after his tractor got overturned has become a point of arguement over the State.

The Guild further said, ” It must be noted that on the day of protest and high action,several reports were emerging from eyewitnesses on the ground as well as from the police, and therefore it was only natural for journalists to report all the details as they emerged. This in line with established norms of journalistic practice.” The statement also urged to lodge an FIR against the false tweet which incited communal violence.

The EGI has said that the FIRs are made just to tarnish the image of the media and hence hinder them to work as an independent media in the democracy. The State is desperately targeting the journalists and hurting the ethics of journalism and creating all the chaos and violence.

Thus the EGI is repeatedly asking for serious investigation over the matter from the Higher Judiciary and also urging to take serious actions against the culprits for preventing the press over working rightfully for the Indian democracy.

Source: The Hindu