New Delhi, 3 May 2021: Observing World Press Freedom Day today, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU), drew urgent attention of Prime Minister Modi and President Kovind that over hundred journalists across the country have lost their lives this past year, 45 alone in the 2nd wave.While journalists are carrying out their duties to ensure a better informed public during this crisis, the IJU demanded it was incumbent on Government to facilitate functioning of the media, fourth pillar of democracy and declare the journalists too as ‘frontline workers’.
In a letter addressed to them, the IJU said it had raised this demand earlier, but unfortunately no action has been taken. The demand is all the more relevant today as this year’s WPFD is “Information as a Public Good,” which is possible only if the media and its workforce are secure and given due protection.
The IJU also held a meeting online with its member State Unions, including the North East, to commemorate the WPFD, wherein it was also suggested that the Government issue an advisory to provide free vaccination to journalists on a priority basis. At the same time, while the government has provided insurance coverage to frontline workers, the same should apply to journalists, who are part and parcel of essential services. Ascheme to this effect be announced at the earliest and for all working journalists.
In a statement, IJU President and Former Member of Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists, Sabina Inderjit said the pending demand for a special safety law for journalists for their protection in the unfortunate environment of growing threats and attacks on journalists is very critical. Of concern is that while hundreds of journalists have been killed over the decades in the country, in nine of 10 cases the killers go unpunished. Impunity, says the UN ‘leads to more killings and is often a symptom of worsening conflict and the breakdown of law and judicial systems.’
Worse, the IJU said, the country has witnessed rising number of cases of harassment and intimidation of journalists, arbitrary detention, false cases against them under draconian laws such as sedition, UAPA and even NSA, for independent and critical reporting in the recent past. This sinister trend is specially noted in the BJP-ruled States, particularly Uttar Pradesh. The Modi government, said the IJU,must ensure that India’s press freedom is not stifled and efforts be made to reign in authorities who are trying to silence criticism.
At the same time, as India like the rest of the world, is now in a digital age, attempts by authorities through actions and policies to clampdown on social media, must be brought an end too, specifically during these unprecedented times. The IJU has welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent direction that there ‘should not be any clampdown on information’, and warned “We will treat it as contempt of court if such grievances are considered for action. Let a strong message go to all the States and DGP of States that clampdown of info is contrary to basic precepts…We want to make it very clear that if citizens communicate their grievance on social media and the internet, it cannot be said it’s wrong information.”
In this backdrop, the IJU hoped all efforts would be made to comply with these directions, as statistics show that the journalists are paying a heavy price in upholding the right to freedom of speech and expression. It also expressed serious concern over the downgrading of India in the world press freedom index and said it is incumbent upon the Modi government to ensure safety, security and welfare of the fourth estate and adopt policies, which will help India regain its stature as the world’s largest vibrant democracy, if its press is fiercely independent.
