Resolution adopted at Union Council Meeting in Ranchi: Demand for a Journalist Protection Act(Detail Page)

This National Council of the National Union of Journalists (India) at its meeting in Ranchi on November 27, 2011, expresses grave concern over the rising number of attacks on scribes all over the country. It condemns the attacks on media persons in Jodhpur on November 13, 2011 by supporters of the former Rajasthan Minister and Congress leader Mr Mahipal Maderna, who is also an accused in the Bhanwari Devi case. Maderna’s supporters also pelted stones on ETV regional office in Jodhpur. It was second attack on the media in the same day. Earlier, in the morning TV Today reporter was attacked there. Four persons have been arrested in this connection.# Similarly, the Shiv Sena activists had attacked media persons in Mumbai on June 22, 2011 when they were covering auto and taxi drivers strike. Apart from it, three journalists have been killed in the country this year alone. The entire media fraternity is worried over the reported involvement of underworld in the killing of Mumbai based Mid Day journalist J. Dey. Earlier, two journalists were killed in Chhattisgarh. What is more painful is that not a single arrest has been made in these cases so far.# The NUJ (I) staged countrywide dharnas on June 25, 2011 demanding immediate enactment of a Journalist Protection Act. A memorandum to this effect was also presented to President of India Smt Pratibha Patil. The National Executive Meeting of NUJ (I) organised in Ujjain in July had also passed a resolution in this regard.# With the daily exposes of corruption and wrongdoings of influential people including the politicians by the media the frequency of attacks has increased on them. The situation has taken such an ugly turn that very often verbal clashes occur between media persons, administration and police during the coverage of events.# Undoubtedly, the cut throat competition between some media houses is also responsible for growing threats to journalists. The blind race between different media houses to dominate each other and also to achieve higher TRP also force the journalists to take up new issues everyday. For this objective, they come across many kinds of people like politicians, administrative authorities, police officials as well as criminal elements. The media persons are threatened with dire consequences whenever they expose the corruption of persons in power, infighting in political parties, nexus between political leaders and mafias, etc. In such life-threatening situations the media persons surely need protection so that they can discharge their duty responsibly and freely.# This National Council of NUJ (I) reiterates its demand of Journalist Protection Act with clear provisions of registering complaint in police station on intimidation, attack or torture of journalists and also that all such complaints should be investigated by a SP/DCP level police officer. We also want that the investigation of all such complaints should be conducted within two days and action ensured against the culprits. Besides, whenever a journalist is assassinated or attacked the case should be heard in a fast track court to ensure timely justice. It is essential keeping in view the fact that no action is taken against culprits for months or sometimes years even after registration of FIR.# This National Council of NUJ (I) also appeals to all State Governments to enact similar Acts in their respective states to ensure protection to journalists. This meeting also appeals to all media persons to come out openly in favour of the enactment of the Journalist Protection Act and pressurise their state governments through different democratic activities so that injustice is not meted out to any scribe in any part of the country.# Proposed by: Pramod Saini# NUJ(I) Union Council Meeting, Ranchi# November 27, 2011