India: Journalist’s Unions Condemn Police Raids on Homes of Journalists | NUJ/DUJ Oct 3, 2023

National Alliance of Journalists (Regd.)
Delhi Union of Journalists (Regd.)
Flat No.29, Central Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi-1 Phone: 23413459, Email: dui.delhi[at]gmail.com

3 October, 2023

The National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit) condemn the police raids at the houses of journalists Bhasha Singh, Urmilesh, Prabir Purkayastha, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Teesta Setalvad, Abhisar Sharma, Aunindyo Chakraborty, Mahesh Kumar, Subodh Varma, Aditi Nigam, Mukund Jha and many others this morning. Phones and laptops of these journalists were seized. Several of the media persons have been taken into custody. The Delhi Police has also raided the homes of comedian Sanjay Rajoura and academic Sohail Hashmi. Reportedly, the raids are being conducted in connection with an FIR filed under the draconian UAPA and laws relating to criminal conspiracy and disruption of communal harmony.

These raids are in connection with alleged foreign investments in Newsclick. The government has been targeting Newsclick apparently after the coverage this news portal gave to the issues of workers and farmers.

We believe that this is yet another attempt by the Centre to muzzle the freedom of press. Such an action, raiding and intimidating almost all the employees in a media organisation, is unheard of. The Newsclick management has been maintaining that whatever funding they have received was through legal sources and evidences for this have been submitted in the High Court of Delhi.

These new raids are to divert public attention from burning livelihood issues of people. Unfortunately, journalists are being targeted for furthering the political agenda of the ruling party. We condemn this with the strongest possible words.

We will stand with these journalists in this matter. We urge the Centre to immediately stop this attack on press freedom We urge the media fraternity to protest against this witch-hunt by the government.

Sd/-
S.K.Pande - President-NAJ
N.Kondaiah - Secretary General -NAJ
G.Anjaneyulu - General Secretary-APWJF
Prasoon S. Kandath -President KUWJ (Delhi Unit),
D.Dhanasumodh - Secretary KUWJ (Delhi Unit),
Sujata Madhok -President DUJ
A.M.Jigeesh -General Secretary-DUJ.