The two major press organisations of India has strongly come out against the revengeful government action against the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Delhi and Mumbai offices giving an unambiguous impression that it is using its agencies against those who express their dissent against the ruling political establishment this not only encroaching upon the media freedom guaranteed in Indian Constitution but also intimidating the fourth estate. In a tweet the Press Club of India enclosing its letter if protest and condemnation said : The Press Club is deeply concerned that the government’s action on an international broadcasting agency network will damage the reputation and image of Indus as the world’s largest democracy. We urge the government to restrain it’s agencies from misusing their powers to intimidate the media tweeted PCI. Another prestigious media organisation Editors Guild Of India has also in a press statement signed by senior journalists n office bearers of this organisation viz Seema Mustafa, President, Anant Nath, General Secretary and Shri Ram Panwar ,Treasurer said that the Editors Guild of India is deeply concerned about the Income Tax surveys at the offices of BBC India in New Delhi and Mumbai. This comes soon after the documentaries by the BBC on the 2002 violence in Gujarat and the current status of the minorities in India. The documentaries stirred political waters with the government criticising the BBC for wrong and prejudiced reportage on the Gujarat violence and attempted to ban online access and viewing of the films in India. Accusing the IT department of harrassing those who speak against the government in the past the EGI release says that the surveys by IT department is in continuation of a trend of using government agencies to intimidate and harass press organisations that are critical of the government policies or ruling establishment. Highlighting the earlier acts of vendetta against media houses the press statement of EGI mentions that in September, June 2021 there were surveys against Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar, News click and News Laundry harrassing and intimidating the management n journalists working here. Not only this but in February the ED had raided the offices of News click. These derogatory actions to harrassing and intimidate the journalists n the owners of these media houses was solely the reaction to their news coverages and stories against the ruling political establishment said the press statement of Editors Guild of India. Terming such actions as actions to undermine the constitutional democracy the Editor Guild of India demanded that great care and sensitivity should be exhibited in all such investigations so as not to undermine the rights of journalists and media organisations. The Guild further reiterated its earlier demand that governments ensure that such investigations are conducted within the prescribed rules and that they don’t degenerate into the instruments to intimidate independent media said EGI’s, press statement.
