CHANDIGARH: In a show of solidarity, journalist fraternity of the city and surrounding areas Thursday registered their strong protest against Punjab government's inaction against assault by Kharar police on HT lensman Samuel on November 30.
Meeting at the Chandigarh Press Club at 11.00 am, large number of print as well as electronic media journalists moved to the Sector 17 plaza in a cavalcade of vehicles. Most of the protesters wore black badges and held placards decrying the concerned authorities. Later, addressing the gathering, Vipin Pubby, the Resident Editor of Indian Express, said it was our duty to defend our rights of free expression and the latest incident had proved that the government was trying to throttle the press. "It's unfortunate that the authorities are taking us very lightly. We had just sought withdrawal of the false FIR against Samuel and suspension of the guilty officials, which is not a huge demand. If this I how government functions, it's very unfortunate," he added.
Vinod Kohli, the president of Chandigarh-Punjab Union of Journalists, said it was sad that we had to move to the roads as the government had not been serious over the matter. "It's a beginning of our campaign. It's better that the government takes action now, or face the consequences," he said. Seeking suspension of officials concerned, K.B. Pandit, the president of Haryana Patrakar Sangh, said when the press protested in the Gautam Dheer case, the government had to take notice.
Speaking on the occasion, Kanwar Sandhu, the Senior Resident Editor of Hindustan Times, said, "What we are seeking is implementation of the rules. It's the camerapersons and photojournalists who generally become easy target of police brutalities. We need to force for certain guidelines so that such incidents of highhandedness don't happen in future." He also thanked the gathering for supporting the cause.
Jagtar Singh Sidhu, the president of Tribune Employees' Union, said the press had always highlighted the cause of various sections of the society, but now it's own freedom was in peril. "We have to stand united. If the government does not yield now, next action would be on a larger scale and the campaign would be taken to the interiors of the whole region," he added. Addressing the general public, Nanki Hans, the general secretary of Chandigarh Press Club, said media was acting as voice of people, but if it's rights were scuttled, it amounted to atrocity against the common man. "With Assembly elections round the corner, we would like to focus on bigger issues, but for that we need to be in full strength. Our demand is very simple- we can't have punishment for a crime not committed," she added. Ritesh Lakhi, the president of the Electronic Media Association, pledged full support to the agitation on behalf of the whole electronic press.
Various senior journalists, including Chandigarh Press Club president, Balwant Takshak, Babulal Sharma Editor (North) of Dainik Bhaskar, Balbir Jhandu, the former president of Tribune Employees' Union, Haresh Vashisht and Ashok Malik also spoke on the occasion. Later, the Traders' Association of Sector 17 and an NGO, Citizen's Awareness Group, also pledged support to the agitation. Subhash Kataria, the president of Traders' Association, said an effigy of Punjab Police would be burnt tomorrow at Sector 17 plaza.
