16 December 2019: Expressing grave concern over internet shutdown in various parts of the country, following protests against the new citizenship bill, the Indian Journalists Union, demands that State governments respect the right of freedom of speech and expression and lift the ban.

Other than internet shutdown including mobile services in north-eastern States of Assam and Meghalaya, district administration in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have clamped down on information flow in Aligarh and Meerut and Malda, Murshidabad, Howrah, North 24 Parganas and parts of South 24 Parganas respectively.

In a statement, IJU President Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General Sabina Inderjit said the governments’ reasoning on imposing the ban on internet services on grounds that ‘the services may be used for unlawful activities’ is untenable. Restricting communication must be viewed as an attack on freedom of the press and the citizens’ right to information, they asserted.

The IJU condemned the police brutality at the Prag News Channel office, where its journalists and reporters were lathi-charged and government’s censorship of Pratidin Times and thanked its affiliate, Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, for its protest rally in Itanagar in solidarity with its Assamese colleagues. Additionally, the IJU denounced attempts by the police to stop and harass journalists from covering the protests, as reported in the media.

The union demanded immediate restoration of internet services so that the media can duly carry out its duty of reporting at a critical time, when massive protests and demonstrations are taking place against CAB in different parts including capital, Delhi.  

Issued by Secretary General

Sabina Inderjit