Statement issued by — Editors Guild of India
The Editors Guild of India has deplored the indefensible acts of violence perpetrated on employees of Prag News, a 24X7 Assamese news channel, by police forces.
The Guild’s attention has been drawn to a social media video that shows uniformed policemen running amok outside the Prag News offices, targeting cameramen belonging to the television channel with their batons. The Guild demands that an inquiry should be instituted to identify those who indulged in such violence against journalists and punish the guilty.
The Guild is also concerned over the recent advisory issued by the ministry of information and broadcasting to all private television channels asking them to desist from broadcasting content that could incite violence or cause law and order problems or ‘anti-national’ feelings.
The Guild believes that the media’s overall commitment to responsible coverage of developments in the country should not be questioned through such an advisory. It is the media’s responsibility to report freely and truthfully and fairly. The Guild decries such a regressive advisory that interferes in the functioning of a free media, and urges the government to withdraw it.
Editors Guild of India
[Statement dt. 14-12-2019]
