The Chandigarh Press Club is appalled at the high frequency at which systematic attacks are being carried out against journalists, during the tenure of the present government in Punjab. The matter gains gravity as media persons have been attacked especially when they are on duty. Apart from being a direct attack on the Freedom of the Press, such incidents amount to direct violation of the provisions of the Constitution and denying the people their "Right to know."
The Chandigarh Press Club strongly condemns the illegal detention and intimidation of a group of Journalists by anti-social elements on May 12, 2008, during the polling for the Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads. A photo journalist, Ranjit Singh Virk sustained serious injuries. The matter becomes all the more serious as the incident occurred in a village falling in the Lambi constituency, which is represented by the Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.
While these journalists, who were witness to gross violation of the law, were warned of serious consequences if they reported the truth, their equipment including cameras was also destroyed. It is disgusting that all this occurred when security personnel stood either as mute spectators or expressed their inability to act against the armed miscreants.
The Journalistic community had high expectations of justice from the senior leaders of the Akali Dal and the BJP, who held series of meetings on the issue of violence on May 13. But not a word of condemnation against the blatant attack on the Freedom of Press was forthcoming. And this is despite that both alliance partners have never missed an opportunity to cry hoarse to make tall claims about standing up for the rights of the media.
As the act of aggression against the Media was committed in the constituency represented by the Chief Minister, the Chandigarh Press Club demands immediately action as per the provisions of law against the persons who trespassed the liberty of the Journalists as well as the inert security personnel. Your browser may not support display of this image.
The Chandigarh Press Club demands a firm commitment from the State Government that such incidents of targeting the Media would not be repeated in the future. The Club is of the opinion that such incidents were only vitiating the atmosphere of the State and forcing the Journalistic community to adopt agitation as a path to seek justice.
Further, the Chandigarh Press Club members condole the death of Ashok Sodhi, Senior Photo Journalist who died in a cross fire during an encounter in Samba Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
The club also takes a serious note of the beating up of a television crew near Purulia in West Bengal.
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