Journalists at Dharali not being allowed to go to the affected areas with the police saying that the orders are from higher authorities
Several senior journalists running their own channels and those working for mainstream media who are in Dharali to cover the aftermath situation of tragic mishappening in Dharali and Harshil to bring forth the true picture of the developments are not being allowed by the Uttrakhand local administration and the police allegedly saying that they are not to be blamed as their hands are cuffed due to the strict orders from higher authorities.
If the fourth pillar of democracy is scuttled or stifled in such a way then it is definite that the powers that be do not want the real picture of this massive tragedy of Dharali and Harshil to come to light.
This is an ecological catastrophe and the consequences of this tragedy are massive and it is the duty of every citizen to be aware of what’s going on there and what were the human losses and subsequent destruction. The media is trying its best to bring the true picture to light being extremely transparent and honest in reporting.
The fourth pillar of democracy , the media has every right to go to every part of Dharali and do their job in order to bring forth the transparent picture of this massive tragedy.
The India Today journalist with photographer, senior journalist formerly with NDTV Hridayesh Joshi , Rahul Kotiyal , Baramasaa and several other journalists of mainstream media are in the disaster affected area but are not being allowed to go there though minus the media everyone is welcome said annoyed Rahul Kotiyal.
Special instructions have been issued to the police to ensure that the media representatives are not allowed.
Rahul Kotiyal has released a video of his in this regard.
Only one journalist of News 18 could reach on foot with his crew from Gangnani covering several kilometres walking facing several chalenges.
The village folks were extremely angry and infuriated complaining that not a single candle has been good sent to them by the Uttarakhand government , though the CM and several VIPs are coming on helicopter.
They said that if they can come on helicopter why was the media not given the chopper ride to cover their plight and the shortcomings.
They said that the media is not being allowed to come to the affected area which is the need of the hour but the VIPs are coming on heli rides but not a single man of the affected Dharali village were given any aid or support, not a single candle or a salt packet.
They are forced to live in extremely hard situation with their everything lost said one of the sufferers while speaking to News 18.
The former president of Press Club of India Umakant Lakhera has taken this very seriously writing on social media in Hindi :
Many journalists and editors of YouTube channels were obstructed when they went to the disaster-hit Dharali in Uttarkashi. This act of the Uttarakhand government is insensitive, anti-people and undemocratic.
Such a move amounts to censorship of journalists! This tendency of intoxication of power is not only a blow to the freedom of media and information but also deprives the citizens of their fundamental right to get information.
Many independent journalists, braving many hardships day and night, kept pleading to go to the affected areas to assess the loss of life and property.
But they were not allowed to go through the available route. They were forced to either go back or travel for several hours climbing the hills and risking adverse weather conditions to reach the affected area.
These devious tactics of the government machinery appear to be designed to humiliate and demoralize senior journalists like Hridayesh Joshi and Rahul Kotiyal and other journalists like them.
I can guarantee that these journalists are not after any award or crown. Their only aim is to know the ground conditions of the disaster affected area and try to understand the pain and suffering of the affected people.
These journalists have gone there at their own expense. These brave journalists have been struggling to move forward without sleeping properly for the last several days, hungry and thirsty. I hope that the leaders of the state government will take cognizance of the situation said senior journalist Umakant Lakhera.
