News click founder and Head of HR of the portal arrested. Raids at several locations of journalists. Several media organisations and political parties denounce action against scribes !
The founder of the NEWS CLICK and the chief of HR of the portal have been arrested under the anti terrorist act, UAPA ( Unlawful activities prevention act) as per the latest news. Kindly recall that there were reports few days ago about the said portal allegedly receiving a hefty amount from China allegedly propagating its agenda. The revelations were made by New York Times.
The name of the founder of the news portal arrested is Prabir Purkayastha and the Head of the HR of News Click is Amit Chakravorty.
On Tuesday morning there was literally a storm in media circles after the television news channels started flashing news about the Special Cell of Delhi Police started conducting raids at thirty locations, residences of the journalists and employees of News Click and those associated with it in the national capital and NCR – Ghaziabad and Noida. The senior journalists Rajdeep Sardesai too had given information about these raids by special cell sleuths of Delhi Police on X. He tweeted immediately on Tuesday writing: Breaking story this morning. Delhi police special cell raids the homes of several journalists/ writers associated with News click website. Takes away mobiles and lap tops. …. Interrogation on. No warrant or FOR shown yet. Since when the journalists became state enemies tweeted Rajdeep Sardesai.
The ” News click”, had already been accused by the Enforcement Directorate with raids conducted earlier at its premises and several other locations for allegedly receiving over 39 crores from China for pushing ahead its agenda violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, labelling charges of UAPA and, PMLA against it.
There have been tremendous amount of reaction from opposition parties as well as media organisations in the national capital and at the pan India level as well, with Press Club of India holding a protest meeting at the PCI precincts at Raisina Road with representatives of PCI, Delhi Union of Journalists, Press Association of India and Editors Guild of India addressing it.
Good number of journalists from various newspapers, electronic channels, digital media and You Tube channels participated and expressed their string condemnation over attack on free speech and media freedom saying that they are not against genuine and transparent investigation but vindictive action with ulterior motive to stifle the voice of journalists and journalism will not be tolerated at any cost.
According to DCP Suman Nalwa till Tuesday evening a total of 37 male suspects have been questioned at premises, 09 female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay and digital devices, ( lap tops) documents etc. have been seized/collected for examination. The proceedings are still ongoing; so far, two accused, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty have been arrested.Further investigation is in progress.
Meanwhile, a call has been given by various media organisations to gather themselves Jantar Mantar at 3 PM on Wednesday to register their protest.
The journalists who were raided and detained for questioning and then released in the evening are : Bhasha Singh, Abhisar Sharma, senior journalist Urmilesh, editor Prabir Purkayastha, writer Gita Hariharan, political commentator Aunindiyo Chakravarthy, historian Sohail Hashmi, satirist Sanjay Rajaura and others. Activist Teesta Setalvad and journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta were also raided reveals news reports.
Senior journalist and an outspoken anchor Abhishar Sharma whose house was raided and was interrogated till evening tweeted on X : After a day long interrogation by Delhi special cell, I am back home. Each and every question posed will be answered. Nothing to fear . And I will keep questioning people in power and particularly those who are afraid of simple questions . Not backing down at any cost .
The Press Club of India tweeted : The Press Club of India is deeply concerned about the multiple raids conducted on the houses of journalists and writers associated with #Newsclick. We are monitoring the developments and will be releasing a detailed statement there after.
In another post in X, earlier Twitter posting the photos of the protest meeting at PCI precincts it wrote : A spontaneous protest meeting was held at the Press Club of India against multiple raids on a number of journalists. The meeting resolved to continue protest by several journalists bodies defending media freedom tweeted PCI. The protest meeting at PCI was addressed by Sidharth Vardharajan, Editor of The Wire, President of DUJ veteran journalists Mr. Pandey, Press Club of India president Gautam Lahiri, former Secretary General Vinay Singh, Sr. Journalist, senior scribes Ms Sabina, MLini Chatterjee and president of Press Association of India Jai Shankar Gupt etc finding the action if Delhi Police in strongest possible terms and warning the government to resist from such dictatorial actions amounting to stifling of the media freedom and free speech.
The Indian Journalists Union in a press statement strongly condemned the multiple raids on the premises of NC and the journalists associated with it.
In a statement its President K. Sriniwas Reddy and Secretary General Balvinder Singh Jammu said the IJU leaders took strong objection to the raids as they seem arbitrary and intimidating.
They said that the seizure of the laptops and mobiles of journalists is nothing but blatant invasion of their privacy. These raids and detentions are to be treated as acts, aimed at muzzling the media as the journalists raided are prominent voices of dissent said the IJU leaders terming the entire action as coercive, undemocratic and vindictive.
The Foreign Correspondent Club of South Asia in its statement said that it is deeply concerned by the recent series of raids on journalists that took place the previous morning. Journalism is an essential pillar of any Democratic Society and the freedom of the press is a corner stone of functioning democracy.
While accepting that the rule of law is important and such an action is based on an FIR against a news organisation which is under investigation and action, it urges the authorities that the fundamental rights of the journalists should be respected and principles of press freedom and fredom of expression as per the Constitution should be duly respected says the Foreign Correspondent Club’s statement.
THE statement of I. N. D. I. A while condemning the BJP government’s fresh attack on media assured the press that they steadfastly stand with the media and for the constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and expression.
The statement concluded that the BJP government’s coercive actions are invariably directed against only those media organisations and journalists that speak the truth to power.
Ironically the saffron party government is paralysed when it comes to taking actions against those journalists inciting hatred and divisiveness in the nation, suggesting it to focus on genuine issues and stop deviating people’s attention from core issues including attacking the media.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India(Marxist) strongly condemned
the early morning raids on homes of several journalists, stand-up comedians,
satirists, scientists, cultural historians and commentators by the Delhi
police on the basis of a FIR that invokes several sections of the draconian
UAPA.
The CPM termed it as a brazen assault on the media and the fundamental right to freedom
of expression saying that during the last nine years the investigation agencies have suppressed, harassed and intimidated various media houses like the BBC, Newslaundry, Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar, the
Kasmir Walla, the Wire etc., and now raiding all those connected with the
NewsClick.
Such a large-scale authoritarian assault against media organizations and
journalists who speaks truth to power is totally unacceptable said the CPM polit bureau statement adding further that the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India(Marxist) calls upon all Indian democratic minded patriots to rise in unison to protest against such
a systematic conspiracy to target, persecute and suppress the media that is
meant to be the conscience keeper says the CPM polit bureau statement.
Kindly recall that one of the detained and raided by Delhi police was a graphic designer of News click from CPM leader Sitaram Yachury’s residence when raids, we’re conducted and laptop mobile etc were confiscated yesterday.
