New Delhi [India], October 12 (ANI): Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha MP P Sandosh Kumar on Monday accused the central government of trying to hide "police excesses" against peaceful protesters by obstructing independent reporting, and has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to stop the alleged harassment and detention of journalists covering protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi.
In a letter to HM Shah, the CPI MP said, "I am writing to register my strongest protest against the widespread harassment, detention and confinement of journalists covering the protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar across Delhi. Reports from several parts of the capital clearly show that journalists are being prevented from discharging their professional duties through the use of force."
Alleging that 'indepdent reporters' were obstructed from doing their duty, he added, "By obstructing independent reporting, the authorities only reinforce the public perception that the government is attempting to conceal police excesses against peaceful protesters."
He alleged that many journalists from media houses were stopped from reporting, claiming that one female correspondant of a news portal was "brutally dragged and detained."
"The repeated police insistence that journalists must possess PIB accreditation to cover the protests is absurd and untenable. The existing accreditation guidelines have failed to keep pace with the changing media landscape. Requirements of 15-20 years of experience cannot accommodate the emergence of credible digital news organisations," he said.
"PIB accreditation cannot be treated as a prerequisite for journalism or as a licence to report from public spaces," he wrote, adding that such restrictions undermine press freedom and the public's right to information.
"The Supreme Court’s intervention on this issue yesterday and concerns raised at the United Nations further underscore the urgency of ending these practices. Such high-handedness has no place in a democracy," he said.
Sandosh Kumar demanded that Shah immediately instruct Delhi Police to stop the alleged harassment, arbitrary detention and obstruction of journalists and ensure their access to areas where they are lawfully discharging duties, and prohibit discrimination solely on the grounds of lacking PIB accreditation.
"All instances of unlawful confinement, intimidation and assault must be investigated and accountability fixed. The government cannot claim to uphold democracy while using the police to prevent journalists from informing the people. I urge your immediate intervention in the larger interest of democracy and constitutional freedoms," he said.
This comes in the backdrop of protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi, with hundreds of protestors being detained by the police.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi led the INDIA bloc's march towards the Supreme Court on Monday, where the opposition plans to petition the court, listing out alleged irregularities in the SIR process and seeking action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. (ANI)
"Govt attempting to conceal police excesses": CPI MP writes to Amit Shah over alleged harassment, detention of journalists during Delhi protests
