PCI appeals to AP CM Chandrababu Naidu to restrain the state police from going on fishing expeditions for victimising journalists for publishing stories in public interest
The Press Club of India is deeply perturbed by the systematic hounding of the Editor and journalists of Sakshi newspaper by the Andhra Pradesh Police for publishing routine news stories.
The PCI president Gautam Lahri and secretary general Neeraj Thakur has appealed to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minster, Chandrababu Naidu, to restrain the state police from going on fishing expeditions for victimising journalists for publishing stories in public interest hoping that he will do the needful positively.
In a press statement issued in New Delhi the PCI said that for long it had held the belief that editorial disputes must be resolved under civil laws and not criminal laws.
While expressing its serious concern and shock over the incessant harrasment and hounding the editor and journalists of Sakshi newspaper , PCI chief Gautam Lahiri and secretary general Neeraj Thakur said that a total of four FIRs have been filed in different districts of Andhra Pradesh under various sections of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita. Two FIRs have been registered at two different police stations for reporting about a press conference that was organised by the leader of the opposition party.
The statement added : Prima facie, these FIRs appear to be a textbook case study of the State using the coercive power of criminal laws to trample upon press freedom that is guaranteed under Article 19(1)(A) to (G) of the Constitution. We have taken a note that the Andhra Pradesh High Court has granted interim protection to the journalists named in the FIRs and restrained the state police from taking any coercive actions, pending the completion of investigations.
The PCI chief Gautam Lahri while terming this action as weaponisation to selectively prosecute the mediamen said that these FIRs conform to a wider and disturbing pan-India trend of filing multiple criminal complaints at different police stations, and at times in different states, against journalists on the flimsiest of grounds for publishing news articles that are perceived to cause inconvenience to those in power or in positions of authority.
The statement signed by Gautam Lahiri and Neeraj Thakur further said that While we believe that the law should be upheld equally for all, it should not be weaponised to selectively prosecute the press.
The Press Club of India has for long held the belief that editorial disputes must be resolved under civil laws and not criminal laws.
We appeal to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minster, Chandrababu Naidu, to restrain the state police from going on fishing expeditions for victimising journalists for publishing stories in public interest.We are hopeful that Mr. Naidu will do the needful said the PCI statement released by the president Mr. Lahiri and Thakur, secretary General.
