Press Statement

IJU condemns attacks on journalists by lawyers

16 Feb, 2016

The Indian Journalists Union (IJU), the premier and most representative organisation of working journalists in the country, has strongly condemned the attack on journalists by lawyers at Patiala Court premises in the afternoon today. The incident took place when the JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar was expected to be produced before the court with regard to the sedition case against him.

In a statement, President S N Sinha and Secretary General Devulapalli Amar said that the assault on journalists, who had gone to cover the event, was a brazen attack on the freedom of press and that the journalists were stopped from carrying out their duties. Worse, it has been reported that while journalists were beaten up, some women journalists were manhandled by the lawyers. This said the IJU leadership was absolutely unacceptable and demanded that the Government take strong action against the lawyers and culprits. The IJU also expects the Supreme Court to intervene and ensure that the media be allowed to cover court proceedings without any hindrance by any individuals or organizations.

Both Sinha and Amar also regretted that the attack on journalists took place in the presence of the Delhi police personnel, who sadly remained mute spectators. The IJU has demanded that the government order an inquiry into the incident and take appropriate and immediate action against the lawyers, who the IJU said feel they have the license to silence dissent and muzzle the media. The growing incidents of journalists being targeted while carrying out their duties, said the IJU not only sought to browbeat the media but were an affront to the democratic fibre of the country. The Government, it demanded, must take corrective measures and at the earliest.